I went to the Farmers Market this week and found they had baskets of tomatoes for $1!
I bought three and went home excited about making tomato jam.
I had never tasted tomato jam until just last year, and I thought it was so delicious, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it before, or that it wasn’t everywhere, in every super market, next to strawberry jam or blueberry jelly! I felt deprived…
So when I saw those tomatoes, I immediately thought, “I could make some jam! I mean, how hard could it be?
Five hours later, after peeling five pounds of tomatoes, simmering & stirring the pot, checking the consistency countless times, I wondered if this “soup” was ever going to turn into “jam”.
I decided to go sit down, after all, I’d been standing in the kitchen for hours (I already had met my 10,000 steps quota and it was only 5pm!). While I was checking my emails and Instagram, I fell asleep…
Next thing I know I smelled a hint of something burning… I jumped out of the chair and ran to the kitchen, exclaiming, “no, no, no…!”
I stirred the pot and realized the bottom was starting to stick, but it wasn’t burned! I tasted it quickly, hoping there was no burnt taste…
Oh, I have to tell you, I breathed a sigh and was so thankful that it tasted fine! It was still really, REALLY hot from those red chile flakes, but it was delicious.
I grabbed the jars and filled three of them with about four tablespoons left over. That’s it! Three pints from FIVE pounds of tomatoes! I had to laugh…
I was so proud of myself.
For years, (since I first got married and went to college in a rural area), I’d wanted to try canning and I finally did it.
It only took a couple decades.
Now, the jars sit it on my kitchen shelves and I can’t wait until next week when I can go to the Farmers Market, buy whatever is in season, and try canning again!
I can almost see it…my kitchen shelves stocked with colorful jars, filled with all kinds of good food.
Of course, what will really happen is that I’ll end up giving these jars away in pretty gift baskets…
…But I love to do that, too!
So it’s a win/win situation 😊
Enjoy summer bounty,
Daisy
A Daisy Garden 