Simple Tomato Sauce for Freezer

 I tried something different and I probably will keep doing my preserving this way.  I have had a lack of time to pull out all the things for canning so far this harvest season.  I saw something on Wisconsin Foodie episode for Stoney Acres Farm.  Tony cooked down tomatoes for the sauce on the pizza and it looked super easy.  

We had our first frost the other night.  So I stumbled through the garden looking for some ripe Romas.  I mentioned this before, but I let some volunteer cherry tomatoes grow...they totally took over that end of my garden.  Next year, I will be tough and pull any of those little tender plants - wait, I will transplant them.  Hahaha.  I ended up with a 5 gallon pail full.

Step 1:  Wash tomatoes.  I cut off any tough looking ends and the spots that had touched the ground, cage or another tomato.  I did NOT blanch and peel these, leave the peel on.

Step 2:  Put a cup of water in the bottom of the Nesco.  Set at "steam" and dump the tomatoes in.  Let steam for around an hour - until soft.  I did add extra water because some were sticking to the sides.  I added a "handfull" of salt.

Step 3:  After they are soft, take an immersion blender and carefully break down the tomatoes.  Turn down the heat to "cook" and take the lid off so it will thicken.  I did stir it every hour.  This took like 4 hours, I could have let it get thicker, but I wanted to go to bed...ahaha.

Step 4:  After it is cooked down, let cool and put in freezer bags.  I did 4 Cups per bag, the same as a quart jar.  I filled 8 bags and my canner only holds 7.  Stack the bags as flat as they go into the freezer.  That's it!

When you want soup, chili, spaghetti, pizza, marinara - any of this, pull out your bag and add the spices and cook to the consistency that the recipe requires.  I absolutely LOVE having my own tomatoes to use.  This was so easy, anyone can do it.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

John Deere Green

 

I bought this from an estate sale we did back in August.  I had to, it had a horse for our granddaughter.  Ignore Ginger's butt in the lower corner...ahaha.  Those 2 dogs love it when she comes to visit.  We look forward to our grandson using it someday too.

Grandpa had to help at times...  She really likes it.

I get to spend the whole day with her today.  Now that she is in school, I miss that.  I'm sure we will be playing horses....I told here "grandma Bird can NOT play horses all day" (my imagination is running out of horse ideas).  We plan to make some apple and tomato sauce.  She loves to work in the kitchen, especially when the work ends in a sweet treat.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and may your days have some sweet treats too.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Changing Season

 It's a rainy Monday here in Ringle, Wisconsin.  It is really starting to feel like Fall.  I do like all the seasons, we enjoy each one here in Wisconsin.  I am partial to Fall just because I like the colors, crisp mornings, sunny and not too hot days, apples, pumpkins, soups, harvesting my garden and all the "things."

I did enjoy this past Summer.  I started out strong in the garden, weed free up until about August....

I did enjoy sitting here and plan to make a bigger "rest" area next year.  Maybe plant some flowers too.  My garden to too big now for just veggies for Al and I anyway.  The artist in me, likes the gardening process because that patch of dirt is a clean canvas for my creating something I enjoy.  

Alas, as nature winds down, giving us one last show of colorful beauty, I will be doing the same.  We have 1 more HUGE estate sale and then the Ringle Harvest Day to complete and round out our selling "season."  I will take a tiny break....hahaha.

Do you enjoy the changing seasons?  What is your favorite?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Country Living

 

For 28 years we have called this place our home.  I always wanted to live in the country and have a hobby farm.  We have put much sweat, blood, tears, money, love and living in this old place and these 39 acres.  The original owner's name was Netzinger.  Several years ago, a man stopped and asked if he could look in our barn and told me those hand prints in the cement belonged to him.  Our neighbor told us stories of how this husband and wife, Nick and Anna, each had their own dairy cows - they kept it all separate.  I've heard many stories of different people who remember making hay or working here for them.  I wish I had some old photos from back then.

As you look at this picture, you do not see what I see.  I see the horses in the front of the barn with the girls riding them in the arena area, I see the goats at the other end of the barn, Mickey (our buck) on top of the roof of his shed, I see the multiple fair pigs over by the shade of that big old maple tree, I see Anna's grand champion Suffolk ewe Dotty, peeking her head from under the fence, I see a huge circus tent with dozens of vendors and hundreds of customers in our yard for the 10 years we had Ringle Harvest Day here, I see Skippy, Champ, Minnie, Dori and Dolly our faithful farm dogs, all still buried here in our little pet cemetery, I see our old barn cats and liters of kittens in baskets carried around by the girls and Midnight and Pumpkin hiding them in the bales of hay, I see monthly markets here I hosted, folk art classes I taught, gardens here, gardens there, flower beds here, flower beds there....lots of work for a hobby.  You also don't see the incredible feeling of thanfulness for all that I just mentioned.  

I can't help but think of this passage of scripture from Psalms 37: 3-4

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Hops Plant

 Probably almost 20 years ago, my friend Jackie gave me a shoot from her hops plant.  I planted over by my garden, near an old rusty dump rake.  I love how it looks hanging over the rusty tings.  It has grown into a huge plant with vines stretching several feet away.  This year, they grew over the top of my honeysuckle bush?  I'm not even sure that is what it is...but, I like it and so do the birds and bees.  The vines are filled with hops this year.  Sometimes, I miss cutting the vines for decorations until after they start to turn brown.  This year, I remembered before many turned that way.  

The only bad part was the nettles.  They were growing under that bush too.  I didn't know until I unwound some of the vines from it....sting...burn...

I pulled little bunches and tied them together to dry.  I plan to sell these at the Ringle Harvest Day for a few dollars.  

I had some beautiful gladiolus this year.  I was going to cut this one for a bouquet, but it snapped off....ughhh...

Overall, my 2022 garden hasn't been very good.  Partly due to my lack of pulling volunteer plants....they were tiny little tomatoes and I thought "oh those are cute, I can't pull them."  Now....it's a jungle of cherry tomato vines....not a one producing.  It had my thinking that there must be a blog post in this.  

You know when you know you shouldn't do something, but you think, "it's only a little (fill in the blank)" what harm can it do or be.  Well, little things grown into big things.  Often times taking over the good things and hindering all productivity or progress.  I can't help but think of cookies.  Sure, I like to bake them, "one isn't going to hurt" then around 8 pm I've eaten a half dozen.   I'm sure you can think of this example and some relaventcy in your own life.  

Last year, I had an amazing garden and I kept notes and hints for this year.  Like, don't just wait for sunflowers to go to seed, cut some and enjoy them.   I guess, I will add to it from this year, don't let the "cute little volunteers" grow, they will take over and you'll regret it.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.