Tomatoes Ready For Home Canning

Just a couple of weeks ago I was wondering if we would get any tomatoes off of our vines this year.

I was talking to my sister in law, Pennie, and she told me to cut back the tops of the plants so that the energy goes to the fruits and not the blossoms still trying to grow.

I did it and what a difference it has made to my plants.

I am getting tomatoes...enough that I am starting to can!

I have said it before and I will say it again,

I love this web site...

PickYourOwn.org

http://www.pickyourown.org/canning_tomatoes.htm

It will show you how to can tomatoes

blanch

peel and chop

the way I have always done tomatoes until last year.

This is when I made my best canning investments ever...

`

no more blanching or peeling...

it does it all.

clean tomatoes go in

turn the handle

out come the peels and seeds and all that is left is the juice.

I bring my tomato juice to a light boil adding a couple of small cans of tomato paste and  let it cook down until it is the thickness I like.

I add salt and place in the jars.

I hot water bath for 30 mins. (pints)

(If I do not add paste I will put a little lemon juice)

I am doing the tomatoes as they ripen, so they are small batches.

and it goes so fast that I can get a batch done while Celes takes her nap :o)