Tomato Sauce

3-4 lbs. ripe tomatoes, about 10-12 large ones

diced onions

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. basil

1 T. sugar

1 T. parsley

1 tsp. salt

pepper

 

Peel and chop the tomatoes, add everything else. Bring to a boil and cook for about 30 minutes until sauce is reduced and thickened. Makes just over 2 cups of sauce. Freezes well.

 

I use frozen tomatoes to make this because they peel very easily. I thaw them about halfway, peel them, then chop them and cook the sauce. 

This sauce is very good served hot over pasta. It can also be used as pizza sauce, or in any recipe that calls for a can of diced tomatoes. I have also used it half and half with bought tomato sauce in lasagna.

Stewed Tomatoes

8 tomatoes

1 medium onion

1/2 cup green pepper

1 small bay leaf

2 T. margarine

1/2 cup celery (optional - I usually leave this out)

3 T. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

Chop the veggies and put everything in a slow cooker. Cook on low 8 hours, then remove the bay leaf. I put this in pint jars and freeze them, then I use them in chili and other recipes that call for stewed tomatoes.

Caramel Apple Jam

 6 cups chopped apples

1 cup water

1/2 tsp butter

1 box Certo crystals

3 cups sugar

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Cook the apples with the water and the butter in a large pot until quite soft and most of the water is boiled away. Add the Certo. When it comes back to a boil, add all the sugar and cinnamon. Stir well and boil for 1 minute while stirring, then take off the heat and pour into jars.

Makes about 6 tiny jars, or 3 pint jars. I keep it in the freezer.

Green Beans for the Freezer

1. Wash green beans, chop the ends off, and cut into pieces.

2. Steam the beans for 5 minutes in a steamer, about half a pail at a time, then spread onto a cookie sheet and freeze immediately.

3. When frozen, put them in ziploc bags. 

To cook them for a meal, I microwave them in a dish uncovered for about 2 minutes, then stir, then another 2 minutes. I also add a wee bit of salt. You could also boil them.

Slow Cooker Applesauce

 Fill slow cooker with chopped apples. Add:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

Cook on low for 4 hours, then stir well until nice and mushy. Fill jars and put them in the freezer once they're cool.