Howdy!
Welcome to my “Home-Grown,” fresh from the garden recipes. These are tomato recipes. Easy catsup recipe and easy spaghetti sauce for meatballs or hamburger recipe.
For years now, my husband and I have bought 100 lbs of tomatoes from a local farmer, but when he stopped planting and selling the tomatoes, we took to gardening ourselves, and last year our small little garden in our backyard got us almost 100 lbs. of tomatoes.
So here we go: What to do with all those tomatoes.
** We freeze ours. This requires a large pot of boiling water, a lot of ice and either some plastic bags for storage or mason jars.
** Preparing the tomatoes. Probably you already know this, but I didn’t and so let me go through the process of getting the tomatoes ready for storage. You’ll need: a) a large pot to boil water in; b) a large pan of ice which usually becomes ice water.
Steps:
- Boil the water
- Cut off any bad spots on the tomatoes and them plop them in the boiling water for about 40 seconds to 1 minute only.
- Scoop out the tomatoes and put them at once into the ice water. Wait a minute or two.
- skin the tomato (the skin comes off easily this way).
- We seed our tomatoes and an easy way to do this is: once the tomato is boiled and then cooled, squeeze the tomato in the middle so the seeds come out the top or bottom. This is the easiest way I’ve found to seed tomatoes.
- Put the tomatoes in a bag for storage or if you want, you can put them in a blender and blend them for tomato sauce and put them in a mason jar for storage.
- Freeze until needed.
Steps for making easy catsup:
- Take out a bag of tomatoes — a large enough bag to make 2-3 cups of tomato juice — or –the mason jar of tomato juice
- Defrost the bag of tomatoes or the jar of tomato juice
- Blend the tomatoes if they aren’t already blended and put in a large pot
- Boil the tomatoes and turn the heat down to simmering —
- Then add:
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup red or white wine
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-2 teaspoons cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon powdered cloves
- 1/4 – 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Boil down until it is a consistency you like and also boil 1 or perhaps 2 – 1 pint mason jar(s) for 5 minutes or so
- Let cool in the 1 pint mason jar(s)and refrigerate while still warm and keep it under refrigeration
- Be aware that mold might develop on it if it is kept for longer than a couple of months in the refrigerator. If so, discard.
Recipe for making easy spaghetti sauce for meatballs or meat sauce from home-grown tomatoes:
- Take out a bag of tomatoes — a large enough bag to make 3-4 cups of tomato juice — or — the jar of tomato juice
- Defrost the bag of tomatoes or the jar of tomato juice
- Blend the tomatoes if they aren’t already blended and put in a large pot
- Boil the tomatoes and turn the heat down to simmering —
- Add:
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon basil (dried)
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Boil down to desired consistency
Boiling down the tomatoes makes it into tomato sauce — I usually don’t boil it down too far because I make this for my grandchildren and they like the taste of the tomatoes straight from the garden and so don’t like it too thick.
If you’re looking to try something a little more adventurous with your home-grown produce, why not experiment with some wild game recipes? Pheasant is a popular choice for those looking for something a little different from traditional chicken or turkey. One recipe that stands out is the pheasant salad recipe. This refreshing and flavorful salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
To make the pheasant salad recipe, you’ll need cooked pheasant breast, mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. Simply toss the ingredients together in a large bowl and drizzle with the dressing. It’s a simple yet impressive dish that is sure to impress your guests.
Whether you’re looking for classic tomato recipes or new and exciting wild game dishes, there are plenty of options to choose from. With a little creativity and experimentation, you can create delicious meals that are both satisfying and nutritious. So why not start experimenting with some of these recipes today?
Hope you’ll enjoy!
I’d love to hear from you.
SHE STEALS MY BREATH:
KAREN KAY aka GEN BAILEY is the multi-published author of American Indian Historical Romances. She has written for such prestigious publishers as AVON/HarperCollins, Berkley/Penguin/Putnam and Samhain Publishing. KAREN KAY’S great grandmother was Choctaw Indian and Kay is honored to be able to write about the American Indian Culture.
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I have so many allergies that I do not garden.
Hi Debra, I used to be like that but my allergies of late have gotten so much less that I can now enjoy gardening. But, boy, I should understand having all those allergies.
Wonderful article. You make this look so easy. I’ve tried for several years to grow vegetables and I’ve only accomplished to kill the poor plants. Canning is something I want to learn and we’ve pretty much determined that we will have to get the veggies from a farmers market.
I’ve not read your work before, but what a beautiful cover you’ve shared. Will be adding your books to read and enjoy. My children are part Cherokee from their father’s heritage. I look forward to reading your books.
Howdy! My husband does most of the work on our garden. He reads everything about it, and I think one of the must dos is to prep the soil (in this day and age). I come into the act when we need to put the tomatoes up. This year, we also have a greenhouse with potatoes growing in it. It’s something to see. Anyway, like I said, he does the gardening — I just pull weeds — and we did get close to 100 lbs. of tomatoes that summer that we had to put up. Anyway, thanks so much for your wonderful praise of the cover. The Cherokee are a beautiful people, not only spiritually, but physically, also. My tribe is Choctaw, neighbors of the Cherokee. I also have European heritage — the Choctaw is only about 1/8 to 1/16, we’re not sure, because the heritage has come down to us word of mouth. Thanks so much for your comment.
Good morning, Karen! Like you, I love, love to can tomatoes. I can’t think of a food more versatile. I’ve been canning and freezing tomatoes for years, but I have never once made catsup. Wine as an ingredient? Interesting! I expected vinegar. Must try!! Thank you for sharing!!
Hi Pam! You know the wine cooks off — the alcoholic content anyway — and leaves behind the wonderful flavor of wine. I also use wine in Chilie and sometimes in spaghetti sauce. Like I said, the alcohol cooks off, leaving behind that beautiful, delicious flavor. : ) Hope you’ll like the recipes. : )
We only have a small garden. If we have some extra tomatoes, I like to freeze them for soup in the winter.
Hi Connie! Truth is, we have only a small garden, too. My husband — from all his reading and working with the soil — manages to get these wonderful harvests. I love them in soups, too. Such a versatile veggie (although it’s really a fruit). : ) Thanks for commenting.
Hi Karen! I have never made ketchup! But I can lots of tomatoes and make salsa, tomato sauce for chili, and spaghetti sauce. It sure tastes good in the wintertime. Have a blessed day!
Hi Kathy! Yum! I bet you have some great recipes for salsa and tomato sauce — the chili I made, I use two different recipes and use them in the same batch — mostly it’s the spices, but I use wine in my chili, also. You are so very right. In the wintertime the flavor of these tomatoes just can’t be beat. One of my grandchildren who hates tomato sauce — absolutely loves it when I make it from our tomatoes grown on our small little yard. Thanks for posting.
I do not garden, as I’d have to doctor the ground too much (my part of Florida is all sand) plus I’d have to water it, and that could get expensive! My Mom used to can, and my aunt’s. Quite a few of my cousins still can, and one makes homemade jellies.
Hi Trudy! Yeah, sand for growing isn’t great — but my husband doesn’t actually grow a garden in the ground. He has big, black round contains (they are rather soft) and he babies that soil. I think that’s why are small little garden products as much as it does. This year we have a green house filled with potatoes. I can only eat home-grown potatoes. Not sure why the store-bought ones just are not compatible for my stomach. Yeah, unless one has a well, watering the garden can get expensive. But, doesn’t it rain alot in Florida? Seems it would be perhaps a good growing climate, but then I don’t live there and so don’t know it at all for growing food. Do orange trees grow well in sandy soil? Or lemon trees? Oh, how I wish we lived where we could have lemon trees or orange trees. Thanks so much for the post.
We don’t have a lot of orange groves anymore, sad to say. Most that were around me are now houses, apartments, or something else. It’s hard to even get an orange tree to plant in your yard anymore. Most citrus trees will grow in our sandy soil, though you have a lot of things to watch out for, and most people don’t grow them. When I was little, we used to go and pick our own at a friend’s house, but then we had citrus canker, and you couldn’t even give the fruit away. Now, larger farms don’t do orange or grapefruit orchards, they plant potatoes and other crops to sell. My oldest sister and I drove up to NW GA to visit one of our aunt’s back in March, and there were no citrus groves our entire drive up I75. Used to, we’d see orchard after orchard. Not anymore! Florida produces only 42% of the citrus in the states anymore.
Very interesting, Karen. I used to garden but now I live in an apartment and don’t even have a balcony. I love fresh, home grown produce and you’re right. You can’t beat it and there’s something about putting your hands in the soil that brings peace to your soul. I enjoyed your post.
Hi Linda! You really have that right. There is something about it that brings peace to your soul. My husband does almost all the gardening — reading and learning and getting soil just right — and then I put up the tomatoes and other things grown — he helps with that, though. I think we are becoming farmers as we grow older. If we had more land, we’d do more, but we only have a small piece of ground. But, Paul does produce a lot of food on that small space. : )
I don’t grow tomatoes but I liked seeing your recipe for catsup! I’m impressed that you grow them now but I thought it was cool about how you used to buy them at the farmer’s market, great idea. I only have fruit trees so I blanch and freeze after I mash it up a little bit. We used to get so much that I’d call the food pantry and they’d send a couple of people over to pick it but the trees are older and don’t produce like they did at that time. My neighbors didn’t even want to make eye contact for fear I’d be across the road with bags of apricots but they got even by leaving their plums on my porch. 🙂
Hi Rachel! One thing we don’t have are fruit trees, but we have plans to get some. Not sure what kind yet — whatever grows well where we are. But, yes, we used to buy from a farmer directly from the farm (not a farmer’s market — we would go to the farm) — but when they stopped, my husband took over and he’s doing really well.
When I have tomatoes, I usually make a sauce and can the sauce right away. I don’t have an extra freezer.
I have frozen stewed tomatoes in small batches to use in chili or soup.
I’ve also made my grandma’s tomato soup and canned it.
I think it’s great that you do this. I’m new to it and so learning the recipes and learning to get the tomatoes prepared to be frozen. But, I do love it. Wow! You have a recipe from your grandma. Love it!
We have had a garden in most places we have lived and appreciate fresh produce. I have canned vegetables forever, but tend to freeze now more often. We have done our tomatoes as you do for years. I have make catsup in the past, but it was grape catsup. It was pretty good. We try to keep up with our veggies, eating most of them and giving much away. I have dried a variety of things and that works pretty well, too. I use my frozen tomatoes for spaghetti sauce and chili, but tent to add more ingredients than you mention. Of course our grandchildren are much older so tastes are a bit different. The one 11 year old is a picky eater and won’t eat the sauce anyway.
Hope you have a great 4th of July weekend.
Hi Patricia! Wow! I love what you’re doing with the tomatoes. I also dry a lot of our veggies, also, but I’m only learning to do this. I also make our own beef jerky and that’s something the grandchildren like and it’s wonderful to have on hand for snacks. Yes, we have a picky eater, too. Thanks Patricia!
My dad makes a great spaghetti sauce… we freeze the extras and pull it out when needed.
Gosh, Colleen, that’s great. Sounds like fun!
There’s nothing like fresh tomatoes! Thank you for sharing these recipes today!
Thank you so much, Shanna! Love it!
I don’t can, but I do freeze. I’ve tried gardening, but something always happens to my vegetables. It’s either bugs, or squirrels and birds that like to take bites of the vegetables!? Your recipes sound good!
Canning and sharing is my most common methods of using excess tomatoes. I also can other fruits and vegetables. I have more food storage than any single gal aughta, but when I pay $7/gallon for gas and nearly as much per pound for ground beef… I’m mighty glad I have some food to fall back on.
We always make homemade salsa and homemade tomato juice for our pantry we love canning every year
I grew up saving our produce. There is nothing like eating the fruits of your labor over the winter. It is truly a satisfying feeling.