Peach and Tomato Salsa

From Adele Matthews and Janice Brady

6 large onions (peel and chop)(wear swim goggles to prevent tears)

6 bell peppers (any color)

8 jalapeno peppers (use rubber gloves to chop)

6  quarts peeled and chopped tomatoes (Roma seem to be best)

2 quarts peeled and chopped peaches

1 bunch cilantro (finely chopped)

1 ½ tsp garlic salt

1 tsp black peppercorns

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground cumin           

3 tsp red pepper (cayenne)

¼ cup salt

1 cup sugar (mix with clear jel before adding)

1 cup clear jel (mix with sugar before adding)

3 cups red wine vinegar

Mix above ingredients in a very large bowl. Heat until simmering in large pots.

Fill quart jars until ½ “ from top, then clean off top of jar and hand tighten new lids and rings onto jar. Process quarts in pressure canner for 20 minutes at 10 lbs pressure. This is the amount of time and pressure for 5,000 feet altitude.

Makes 12 to 13 quarts. Let cool and enjoy.

Note: I often make a half batch as my tomatoes ripen. It is still a big batch.

Also: if you don’t have peaches you can substitute more tomatoes or mangoes. You can also use frozen peaches. Both are good, but peach is my family’s favorite.

One more thing: Use a pressure canner! There are enough vegetables in this salsa that it is risky to use a water bath.

Dried Bananas

Ripe bananas were on sale Thursday at Ridley's for 15 cents a pound. I thought it would be a good time to get some to dry.

Peel the banana, cut into about 1/8 inch slices. Place on food dehydrator and dry at 135 degrees until dry, about 8 - 10 hours.  After 4 hours I change the order of the trays, putting the top one on the bottom. Start checking them for doneness at 8 hours.
I put the dehydrator outside on the porch when I use it in the summer to keep the house a little cooler.

Jaynann likes these mixed with almonds for a yummy healthy snack.

Labeled for the pantry

Discounted Chicken

I like to save money on groceries. One of the ways I do this is to stock up when something is on sale and then I'm still serving sale food even after the sale is over.

Cook

Cut and Partial Freeze

Ready to add in a hurry

This is how I do it with chicken. I only use chicken breasts or chicken breast tenders. When there is a good deal on, I buy more than I need. ( I don't like Macey's sale chicken unless I'm going to pressure can it. I think it is tough and dry) I cut it into strips and either grill it or fry it with salt and pepper or lemon pepper. When it is cooked, I cut it into cubes, put it on a tray to partial freeze and then transfer it to a dated bag to keep in the freezer. I use it as an addition to many meals. This is really a time saver when fixing dinner and we are eating cheap chicken all year.

Freezing Fruit

Strawberries were 88 cents a pound today, so I bought 8 pounds to freeze. I use them in smoothies and I don't want them all frozen together in a big clump. Here is how I do it. It works with any fruit.

Wash strawberries and remove hulls. Drain. Line them up on a silicone lined cookie sheet. Put in freezer until partially frozen, 1/2 to 1 hour. It won't hurt them to go longer if you forget. Take them off the cookie sheet and put in a freezer bag marked with the date. So easy.
I did this with peaches, raspberries, blackberries, pineapple and pears last year. Just watch for a sale then stock up. For the bigger fruit, cut into bite sized pieces before freezing.

A word about my pink silicone baking sheet liners. I am in love with them. I should have had them all my life, but I just discovered them about 18 months ago. Thank you Sarah for introducing me to one of my favorite kitchen necessities. I got mine from Target and they are pink. Very happy color. I'm so lucky and I still get in a good mood every time I use them. If you do not have these liners, you can still freeze on the pan. I did it for years and it works, but make sure your fruit is drained well so the water doesn't freeze to the pan. And make sure to ask for silicone liners for your next birthday!

I also made some strawberry freezer jam. Just follow the instructions on the pectin box.