Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Tomatoes Under Control. For A Day, At Least


If I was to sell that pint of salsa I think I would have to ask about fifty dollars for it. And that still probably would not compensate me or Mr. Moon fully for the labor we put into the growing of the vegetables, the preparation of the vegetables, the cooking, the jars, the jar sterilizing, and the first degree burns I seem to have on my left hand. 
Which is odd in that I am right-handed. 

Anyway, I have seven pints of homemade salsa now and if you asked me if it tastes better than commercial canned salsa, I'd have to say...eh, not really. But of course there is that sense of satisfaction I have from having done it and that's worth something. 
Right? Right? 
The first thing I did this morning was cut all my sun gold cherry tomatoes in half. This took approximately forty-eight hours. 
Not really. But an hour, probably. 
And then I salted them and squeezed some of the juice out of them and put sliced garlic in with them and roasted them for a few hours. 



I tried boiling down some of the juice that I collected and that was...interesting. I ended up putting a little bit into the salsa and tossing the rest. It was full of seeds but I'm not picky about tomato seeds. The tomatoes themselves ended up as sweet as candy but of course they all had their skins on them still. Didn't bother me, I added those to my salsa too along with peeled regular tomatoes, chopped peppers of various varieties including some jalapenos that Lily gave me and half of one of those Red Flame peppers and I'm pretty sure that's what burned my hand. Also onions, garlic, vinegar, and salt. I cooked that down for awhile, added a can of tomato paste to thicken it a little and make it a bit redder (all those sun golds gave it a yellow tinge) and then I water bathed it. 
And just like that...SALSA!

We will try it tonight on the enchiladas I am making for Owen who is spending the night. He's such a sweet boy. He helped me pick vegetables earlier and he went with Mr. Moon to the dump to get rid of some more stuff from the garage that my husband is clearing out. He helped him unload it. It's such a trip having this boy here now. It's like he grew up in the Year of Covid. He'll be 12 in September and he's almost as tall as I am. When I kiss him on the cheek, there is no more bending down. He is precious to me. My first grandchild, the one who gave me my grandmother name. 


He half grew up in this house and I joke that he knows where everything is better than we do. That may be true. I always want him to feel as if he is home when he is here. 

I wonder if he'll let me read him The Little Red Hen Makes A Pizza tonight. He's so sweet that he might. 

And I did one more thing today. Harder than making salsa by far. Something I've been putting off for literally years- I made an appointment for an eye exam. It's on Friday and I'm very, very glad that the process has begun for me to get new glasses. Not only do I need a new prescription but the glasses I have are so scratched up that it's a wonder I can see at all out of them. The only reason I've put it off for so long is my ridiculous but very real fear of doctors. I'm almost sixty-seven years old and I cannot for the life of me figure out where this fear comes from and it only seems to get worse with age. 
But. I did it. 
And I know this sounds absolutely absurd but I'm proud of myself. 

And on that note- off to make enchiladas for my boy and his grandfather. 

Love...Ms. Moon

37 comments:

  1. that salsa IS beautiful and I'm sure will be wonderful! Yes, satisfying to make ones own but every year when I slave (LOL) over apricot jam....I also think it's worth about 30 dollars per jar! No crop this year so won't have to do it, sadly. Glad Owen is staying! Enchilada's and Little Red Hen! I hear you on Doc appointments. I also made eye appt. today! but it's a month away.... don't like doctor appointments at all..... and funny that I worked for a doctor for 20 years! Perhaps that is why? LOL! Enjoy your Owen night!
    Susan M

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    1. My first real job was in a doctor's office doing filing. It was pleasant but boring. My favorite part of the day was when I got sent next door to the drug store to buy cokes for everyone.

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  2. I have an unhealthy fear of dentists, and my bad teeth are living proof. My dentist has to order me three Xanax....one before bed the night before, one before I leave for my appointment, and one when I arrive. Yes, I'm relaxed (and hubby has to take me) but I will tell them I'm there, sit in the farthest-away chair I can find, and count to 30. If I haven't been called in by 30 I get up and go home. Same dentist for 30 years, and I can't imagine why he hasn't fired me.

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    1. I have often said that one of my biggest health risks is my avoidance of doctors. Right before I die I'll probably be saying, "I'm fine. I'm fine."

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  3. wow, Owen just gets handsomer by the minute! Such a lovely lad he is! I miss boys that age, so much fun.
    You can feel well accomplished for being the queen of all- you are! No body does it better. The salsa looks and sounds like I could just gobble it, spoon full at a time. mmmm YUM.

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    1. Nah. The salsa isn't that good.
      But Owen is a sweetheart. And fun. You're right.

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  4. Quite a handsome young man. Enjoy your dinner. Pouring down hard here...

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  5. In my "youth" I would go to a doctor regularly. Several years ago I asked for a bone density test - the doctor said only if I agreed to hormone replacement therapy. I said no thanks and didn't go to another doctor for over 7 years. I have had a male doctor for the last several years and decided at 78 I want the understanding of another female. The one I wanted doesn't accept new patients so I'm trying another female (50+) - that was a requirement, don't want a younger one - and this one is a DO not a DR. I think this will suit me better as I'm not going to be a regular medicine taker. I take aspirin and that's it. We will see how it goes.

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    1. I do so hope your new doctor works out for you. I love my GP. I'd love to meet him for coffee. Not so much love seeing him in his office although we do spend a lot of time talking about chickens.

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  6. SpecTACular 🌶 and sounds delicious yum

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    1. I know it's nowhere as good as your salsa, dearheart.

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  7. That Owen is the loveliest boy. His smile could melt the devil's heart.

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    1. I told Owen what you said. He was most pleased. Shyly pleased. But pleased.

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  8. Sungolds are fast becoming a favorite! They’re pretty productive, even in the heat and they’re pure garden candy. I’m in awe that you sliced that many in half! The salsa is sure to be good. How can Owen be 12 already? I remember when he first made you a grandmother. Proud of you for making that appointment!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. I do not know how Owen grew up so fast. It stuns and amazes me. You're right about the sungolds- garden candy. And cooked they are even sweeter.

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  9. Your salsa looks and sounds fabulous. I completely understand your fear of doctors. It took me so long to trust my doctor and now he has retired and we are without. I can't imagine telling my life story to an emergency room dr. if I need one. Your grandchildren are delightful. -Jenn

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    1. My GP is about fourteen years old so unless he moves I think we're good. He has a lot of family ties here so maybe he won't.

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  10. Owen is so appealing. What a lovely boy.

    And good for you for going through with the doctor appointment. Any time something is so fearful and you do it anyway, that's real courage. You should be proud of it, yes.

    I know nothing about salsa, except I know it involves tomatoes. I should look this up.

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    1. Owen is indeed a lovely boy. He is precious.
      Thank you for understanding about the doctor's appointment.
      Salsa is a fine thing to put on many foods. Not just tacos and quesadillas but also eggs and salad and many other things. You might like it.

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  11. That's a lot of Work, I make Lazy Gal Salsa, nothing is cooked, just fresh ingredients blended and then we make a Pico de Gallo chunkier version too, also no cooking involved. It keeps for Days, not that it lasts that long, so no Canning involved either.

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    1. I LOVE fresh pico but I have so many tomatoes that there's no way I could use up all of the salsa I made from them without canning. But before the season is over, I will definitely make some.

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  12. I wonder if the salsa will get yummier after it ages. In any case, I don't think I've ever eaten a 'bad' salsa. I shall have to offer my services to come taste yours.

    Hot pepper burns are the worst.

    Enjoy your time with the grandson.

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    1. The salsa's not bad. It's just not great.
      My burning hand feels all better. I was just being a baby.
      And I did very much enjoy my time with Owen.

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  13. Something I do with cherry tomatoes - saute in olive oil, salt, pepper, whole garlic cloves (lots of them) until they wrinkle and burst - add some red wine vinegar to give them a little punch. Love them with chunks of toasted Italian bread - also put quarts of them in the freezer for dead-of-winter casseroles or soups.

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  14. I'm exactly the opposite, so not afraid of doctors. but then my father was a doctor so there's that. my problem is I see too many doctors! and in a couple of months I'm supposed to make an appointment with an opthamologist about cataracts though I'm not seeing that my vision is affected by them so far.

    I swear I think Lily progenerated those kids without any input from Jason at all (or output as the case may be).

    I much prefer to make my own tomato sauce and put up my own tomatoes even though it's a lot of work. now I just need to start growing tomatoes again so I have some to put up.

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    1. My friend Lon got cataract surgery and he is SO happy. They even corrected a vision problem and now he needs no glasses except for reading.
      I think you may be right about Lily's kids although I see a lot of Jason's mother in Maggie.
      It IS a lot of work to put up tomatoes but it's worth it. I guess.

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    2. I think Gibson looks like Jason, don't you? Owen and Maggie do seem to me to take after Lily. (But of course I haven't seen Jason's mom!)

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  15. Wow, Owen is just his mom's double isn't he!

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    1. He really is. Those Moon genes are strong genes!

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  16. I am sure your enchiladas were yummy! Enjoy your evening with Owen!

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  17. Nice that you and Glen have Owen there to keep an eye on you. When people enter their late sixties they begin to make mistakes. Perhaps you should ask Lily if he can be your live-in carer. He could read you bedtime stories before tucking you in.

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  18. Owen is looking more and more like his Mom; he's such a handsome young man, with a beautiful open-hearted smile.

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  19. That salsa looks terrific and it sounds like quite a project! But at least it's one that deep down you enjoy. (I think!)

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.