8/24/15

Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes

It was another day of canning here at the Three Cats Ranch. My inner slasher is gratified by all the tomato bloodshed.


The yield was another 7 quarts for a total of 14 quarts, and there are still about 10 pounds left to process. There was just a smidge of sauce left when the jars were filled, and so Mike and I had a taste. Mmm, mmm, mmm. Mike liked it so much he spread it on bread and had a pasta sauce sandwich. You probably don't need the recipe for that.


Today I'll process the last of the tomatoes. There will be enough for another double batch of sauce (yield about 4 more quarts) and a second batch of salsa (yield around 5-6 pints). There are still more tomatoes coming on my own plants, and so I'm not prepared to say this is going to be the last of the canning for the year. Nevertheless, anything more will be a bonus since this year's pantry is completely stocked for the year to come. It's like having pasta sauce in the bank, although I doubt it works as well for currency as it does for cooking. 

In my post from yesterday, I was telling you about wanting to try a batch of salsa made with the Roma tomatoes from my CSA farmers. The batch I made earlier was from the Super Marzano tomatoes from our own greenhouse. Remember the "Key Lime Smackdown" I did a few years ago after my friend Dana sent me a box of key limes? The panel of distinguished tasters rendered their decision and awarded the Lime Cup to Dana's key limes.


Yes, the much sought-after Lime Cup. It's a beautiful thing, isn't it?

Well. All of that to say that my friend Marei gave me the idea to do a similar show-down between the Roma tomatoes and the Super Marzano tomatoes. Of course, there will be a prize...the coveted Tomato Cup.


By the end of today, the salsas will be complete and ready for their moment in the Salsolympics. I ran this idea past Erik for his birthday party celebration, and he was keen on the idea. Watch for the Hoppin' Jalapeno Salsa Smackdown in October. For now, there's no time for sewing. I'm spending one more day murdering tomatoes.

8 comments:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Yum. Sauce and salsa make my mouth water. And the sammich idea is a fabulous one !~!

Dana Gaffney said...

We all knew the Key Limes would win, it's key lime pie for a reason.

gpc said...

Very impressive. I need more ambitious friends who can and cook since I lack the get up and go to get up and do it myself. We have a local salsa contest coming up next month. A friend's son always enters and often wins, and I look forward to the tasting part. You would be a great addition!

Marei said...

You sure I can't come up and be a taste tester? I do love me some salsa. So get this...today I went to get some more canning jars and all the essentials for making more salsa. I pull into the drive and ..... big head slap ..... realize I have forgotten to stop at the greenhouses and pick my tomatoes! What a spaz! Thankfully the tomatoes will still be on the vines tomorrow. Now the real question is will I remember to go pick them????

gayle said...

Mmmm... Pasta sauce sandwich... Did he melt cheese on it?
Now I know what I want for lunch. 8)

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Very productive days with those toms! Oh, love the Key Lime Cup! And the salsa smack down sounds like fun.

Kate said...

That sink certainly looks like the sight of a massacre! That's a lot of canning.

quiltzyx said...

Looks like you're doing a heck of a good job massacring those tomatoes & putting 'em in the glass jail cells! Doing a salsa taste-off sounds good to me!