We are entering month two of the challenge and the name of the game is fermenting. I love me some fermented cukes and jalapeños, but honestly haven’t ventured to far outside of putting up summer produce. So… for my challenge this month I am taking on sourdough starters and yogurt sans instapot and if I can […]
MoreThe Texas growing seasons support your new year’s food goals! There are green things all over the farmer’s market and if you partake in a CSA, your box is probably overflowing with everything from collards to kale to arugula. The only downside to this green wonder is storing it all! For that, a couple of […]
MoreLots of produce that I need to put up this weekend, so I thought I would put together a list for the sake of accountability. I’ve listed things in order of priority for my pantry, but this does not necessarily mean that I will tackle them in that order: Crushed tomatoes Shelf-stable salsa (small batch […]
MoreI have put up 7 pints of shelf-stable tomato sauce and 5 pints of oven-roasted tomatoes in the freezer to date and that is just not enough to make it through to June 2017. 10 pounds of san marzanos getting processed tonight! Stay tuned to the ‘gram and twitterverse for the play-by-play.
MoreI am not sure what kind of shape my tomatoes are going to be in tomorrow morning, but I suspect that they will be very, very, VERY ripe. Although my most coveted pantry is item is crushed tomatoes, I find that knocking out a batch of Basic Tomato Sauce first helps start my weekend processing without wearing me […]
MoreThis will be my fifth season of putting up tomatoes for my homemade pantry! I’m excited to get my sad, sad pantry back into top form, so stay tuned this coming weekend as I blanch, peel, and prep my first 20 lbs worth. I’ll start with a tentative plan tomorrow (on the blog) with links to […]
MoreAll the rain means is making for a slow start to the beginning of my much beloved tomato season. A small batch of tomato sauce for immediate consumption (not the pantry) to kick off tomatolandia it is.
MoreThis happens to me every April. It has to do with wanting to be done with the busy that always comes at this time of year (summer tends to be a bit of a break in that regard). Also… my pantry is very, very sad. Tomatoes are low. Pickles are gone. All that is left […]
MoreI promised to check back in with some progress and here she goes. My first jar of fermented dill pickles smells divine, and is absolutely beautiful. All signs point to this being a fermenting household moving forward. Will have to figure out fridge space for this new pickle direction ASAP.
MoreConfession: I have been buying fermented pickles for well over a year (maybe two) and swapping for them whenever possible. Once the household got a hold of fermented pickles, there was no turning back. Vinegar-brined pickles have not cut it since. I hadn’t gotten up the nerve to make my own yet. The process is […]
MorePicked what I hope is my first of many batches today. Neighbor said that in his 40 years in the neighborhood, no one has ever asked about picking. What?!? As far as he knows, the squirrels and birds have been feasting at springtime for years. It is a HUGE tree and I have been granted […]
MoreMy stash of tomato preserves has taken a hit over this winter break. I may be relying on it too heavily. Dialing use back a few notches to make sure it lasts us through May/June. What’s left: 9 pints crushed, 4 pints basic sauce, 6 pints roasted green + freezer stash.
MoreA quick how-to on splitting the tricky (and thorn-filled) opuntia without injury.
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