You say tomato, I say let's make chili!

in #homesteading5 years ago

Yesterday I mentioned picking tomatoes. My friend's garden is huge and still going strong, and she just can't keep up with all the produce, so she's given me permission to come and pick whatever I want. I don't bother trying to grow tomatoes at my house, since the property is surrounded by trees and doesn't get enough sun to grow them without a greenhouse. Someday maybe that will happen, but until then I have to get my tomatoes and peppers from friends who have more sun.

IMG_20191009_145802889.jpg

It was a sunny but chilly day, and the wind was brisk. Even so, it was wonderful to be out in the garden. We were trying to pick as quickly as possible, since the big dog and the tiny rooster were in the car. I would have let them out, but my friend's dogs would have had several aneurysms each.

IMG_20191009_145823557_HDR.jpg

Once we got home, it was time to do something with the bounty. There weren't really that many tomatoes, but I figured some is better than none.

IMG_20191009_165942719.jpg

Once the stems were removed, they got dipped in boiling water to split the skins. I had to do them in small batches, and it took forever.

IMG_20191009_185729076.jpg

Seriously, forever. These are small tomatoes, and each one had to have the skin and the stem core removed. Once all that was done, they went back in the pot to get good and hot before going into the jars I had been scalding in the canner.

IMG_20191009_203756907.jpg

Like I said, I didn't get a huge harvest, but it should be more than enough to make a couple of big batches of chili this winter. Perfect comfort food!

IMG_20191013_150902426.jpg

That's my super exciting tomato story! Not quite as scintillating as taking a mini rooster into the bank, but I won't care much about that when I'm eating chili in front of the fire this winter!

Sort:  

Yummy and Yummy i also love them that way but i also love to eat them half ripe straight of the plant the best 👍

Thank you! It was worth all the effort!

I was just thinking today about making chili! Beautiful tomatoes. I don't have enough sun to grow them either.

At least I'm not the only one in my shady boat! Chili is a mainstay in my house. I don't make it spicy but it still warms you inside and out.

Posted using Partiko Android

I have had so many trees affected by ash borers the past few years that as the last of them die and have to be removed my sunlight situation is beginning to change.
My chili is not firey hot, either.

Wow! Very impressive! You got it all done very fast! Would love to try some of your chili!

My chili is very mild, because I am a spice weenie. You would probably find it bland! I would love to share some with you though, even if you have to add hot sauce. :)

Posted using Partiko Android

No point growing your own tomatoes when your friend has a huge garden and couldn't keep up with the produce. I am sure she is glad that you help to consume some of her garden's produce. 😊

Indeed! It's the perfect solution.

Posted using Partiko Android

Nice work, @goat-girlz! Home stewed tomatoes always taste so much better than the ones from the grocery.

Great! Nothing beats homegrown tomatoes - even if it comes from someone else's garden!

I'm not picky! I'll take all the tomatoes I can get!

Posted using Partiko Android

Wow... lucky! Myu parents' tomatoes stopped producing awhile ago, already. It has snowed here already, though! No accumulation, but still.

Have you ever tried tomato jelly? It's a thing in Spain. It's actually kind of tasty, but a little different. Chili sounds better!

That chilli look sos good :)

Omgggg, those are gorgeous tomah-toes... (says the one who has never seen tomatoes on the plant!) You call that not really that many? The only time I see so many is at the supermarket! :D But I agree... those bottles of chili look stupendous! Yummmmm....