A Canning Adventure

So tonight I have been deep cleaning my entire house. It's in total shambles because all last week I was canning tomatoes. I canned almost 30 quarts of tomatoes and I'm exhausted!

First, I found this neat little tomato patch just outside of Sardine Canyon. I picked a bushel and half of yummy tomatoes just like this:

They were so good to eat fresh, it was hard to can all of them!











I blanched (put them in boiling hot water for about a minute) the tomatoes to get the skins off.











I cut them up into quarters.

I washed my quart bottles, set them out, and put two tablespoons of lemon juice in the empty bottles.











I filled them with tomatoes and put one teaspoon of salt in the bottle.

Then I put a hot lid on them and put them in the canner for an hour.

Viola! Canned Tomatoes!

 

 

I did make a rookie mistake, though. I got the canner a little too hot and broke a bottle :(

It's a fantastic feeling to be able can my own food. I was able to get almost 30 quarts for $26. I could never buy that much in the store AND have quality tomatoes. This winter won't be so bad if I can keep canning!