Canning Tomatoes

It's that time of year again. The tomatoes are ripening and it's time to can them. Now, I must be honest. When I talk about tomatoes ripening, I'm referring to the tomatoes my uncle grows. He can grow anything and everything. And he does. We're very blessed that he shares.

It's not that we don't try to grow tomatoes. It's just that something always seems to happen, be it varmints or too much water or fertilize or something. Now, we do grow grape tomatoes. In abundance. Grape tomatoes are not to be confused with cherry tomatoes. Grape tomatoes are the size of, well, grapes. We have them everywhere. Have I mentioned that I don't eat tomatoes?

But I'm getting away from the purpose of this post. I do cook with tomatoes so it's important to know how to can them. I've been asking a great many questions. I don't like all the answers. Question: How long do you cook them. Answer: Long enough. It's what happens when you're dealing with someone who has just always done something a certain way because her mother did it that same certain way. No timing involved. You just kind of know. And that makes it hard when dealing with a mother who, unlike her mother, doesn't want to teach or have help in the kitchen.

This recipe is for me probably more than for you. I want to remember just in case there comes a time when I need to.

Canning Tomatoes

 

Tomatoes

Salt

Wash and dry jars. We use pint jars.

Peel tomatoes, making sure to remove the ends. Put tomatoes in a large container and bring to a boil. Be sue to stir frequently to keep them from sticking to the bottom of the pan. How long do you cook them? Until they're mushy. (I did warn you!)

Place tomatoes in jar. Put 1/2 teaspoon of salt in. Do not try to mix this in with the tomatoes. Just leave salt on the top. He will disappear into the tomatoes. Place boiled lid on top, then screw on a ring top and tighten.

Put aside and wait for the pops to begin. The pops come when the lid seals. It's a joyous occasion!

Be sure to label and date all your canned goods. You think you'll remember but, trust me on this, you won't.

Chocolate Icebox Cake

I found this recipe in the June 2013 issue of Women’s Day magazine. It comes from the Casserole Queens, Crystal Cook and Sandy Pollock.

Chocolate Icebox Cake

4 teaspoons instant espresso
¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
20 ladyfinger cookies
1 0.25-oz. package powdered gelatin
1 10-oz. package bittersweet chocolate chips
4 cups heavy cream
6 large egg whites
Shaved chocolate, for serving

In a glass measuring cup or bowl, combine the espresso with 1 tablespoon sugar. Add ¾ cup boiling water and stir to dissolve. Line the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with the cookies. Drizzle the espresso mixture over the cookies; set aside.

Place 2 tablespoons water in a small microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let sit for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, microwave the chocolate chips and ½ cup cream in a medium microwave-safe bowl until the chocolate is nearly melted, 45 to 60 seconds. Microwave the gelatin mixture until it melts, about 15 seconds. Stir the gelatin into the chocolate mixture until melted and smooth. Let cook for 5 minutes.

Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add ¼ cup sugar, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes. Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg white mixture.

In a second large bowl, using an electric mixer (with clean beaters), beat 2 ½ cups cream until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the chocolate-egg white mixture. Spread over the cookies and chill for at least 4 hours and up to 3 days (making sure to cover it after 1 hour).

Just before serving, using an electric mixer, beat the remaining cup of cream and tablespoon of sugar in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Spread over the chocolate mousse. Sprinkle with shaved chocolate, if desired.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bars

This recipe comes from the June 2013 issue of Coastal Living. It should be perfect with that fresh-canned Strawberry Jam!

Strawberry-Cream Cheese Bars

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 cup cold butter, cut into pieces
2 cups regular or quick oats
1 ½ cups strawberry preserves or jam
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Pulse flour, brown sugar, baking powder and 1/3 cup sugar in a food processor 3 or 4 times until combined. Add butter; pulse until crumbly. Add oats; pulse to blend. Set aside 1 ½ cups of mixture.

Press remaining oat mixture into bottom of a greased and aluminum foil-lined 13-x-9-inch baking dish. Bake 10 minutes.

Spread preserves onto crust. Stir together cream cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and almond extract, if desired, in a small bowl. Spoon small dollops of cream cheese mixture onto preserves; sprinkle with reserved oat mixture.

Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool; cut into bars.

Makes 2 dozen.

Crinkle Cookies

This recipe comes from the July 8, 2013, People magazine. It was provided by Carla Hall, who owns the cookie company Alchemy. They look delicious! I can’t wait to give them a try.

Crinkle Cookies

4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 large egg
½ cup sugar
¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup mini-chocolate chips
¼ cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Microwave butter and cocoa in a glass bowl on HIGH for 45 seconds. Whisk mixture until smooth; set aside.

Whisk together egg, sugars, salt and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Gradually add egg mixture to chocolate mixture, whisking until well-blended.

Whisk flour and baking powder together in a small bowl. Stir flour mixture into chocolate mixture until well-blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and chill dough for 30 minutes or until dough is firm enough to handle easily.

Place powdered sugar in a shallow bowl. Scoop dough and form into ¾-inch balls; roll in powdered sugar. Arrange cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes. Cool cookies 1 minute on baking sheet; transfer to wire rack and cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen.

Blackberry Cobbler

The blackberries are ripe. I'd about given up on them. We had a few earlier, barely enough to make one making of blackberry jelly. Then they sort of dried up. That was before the rain. Now they're making like crazy. I'm thrilled. Really.

 

So is Abby. This large dog/child sits right next to me and picks her own blackberries. She is crazy funny. Sammy, my other dog/child waits for me to pick blackberries for him. He's too dignified to deal with the thorns.

 

I needed to make a cobbler so I went to my go to cookbook, Southern Plate. Christy Jordan is an awesome Southern cook! I recommend this cookbook to anyone and everyone. This recipe is super simple. And I didn't have to use the mixer or anything.

 

I didn't cook it quite as long as Christy suggested. It was golden so I took it out a few minutes early. Every oven is different. That's something important to always remember when you're trying a new recipe. Also be sure to wash your berries. I know it should be obvious but some folks just don't think to wash fruit and vegetables before you cook them. It's just a good habit to develop.

 

Oh, and Christy says you can use other berries or peaches instead of blackberries. Did I mention that the peaches are almost ripe?

 

Blackberry Cobbler

1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
2 cups blackberries (use can use fresh or frozen)
1 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt the stick of butter in an ovenproof casserole dish in the oven while mixing the ingredients.

Place 1 tablespoon butter on top of the berries in a small bowl. Pour 1/2 cup of the sugar over the berries. Stir. Heat in the microwave for 1 minute so that the sugar begins to melt.

In a large bowl, mix together the flour and 1 cup sugar until blended. Pour in the milk and mix until blended.

After the butter is melted, take the casserole out of the oven and pour the batter on top of the melted butter. Pour the berries on top of the batter. Do not stir! Sprinkle a tablespoon of sugar over the cobbler. Place in the oven and cook for 55 minutes, or until golden.

Makes 8 servings.

P.S. This is wonderful with ice cream!

Hot Dill Pickles

This recipe comes from my Aunt JoAnn. It was a special request. My Aunt JoAnn is an incredible cook. She also does a lot of canning. Lots. And lots. Seriously. My uncle spends all his time growing things and she spends most of her time figuring out what to do with it all. She's amazing!

 

Because she is a Southern cook, you've got to use a little bit of common sense. Aunt JoAnn generally cans pickles in pint jars. How many cucumbers do you use? Enough to fill up the jars without packing them. What kind of cucumbers do you use? Pickling cucumbers . . . unless you're my mother and then you use whatever you have available. Like I said: use your common sense and work with it. Be sure to wash the cucumbers first. You probably already know that. Always wash fruits and vegetables before you use them.

 

Hot Dill Pickles

Cucumbers (Aunt JoAnn cuts hers round.)
1 quart white vinegar
2 quarts water
3/4 cup pickle salt
garlic (1 small bulb to a jar)
1 teaspoon dill seed
Hot peppers (2 to a jar)
1/2 teaspoon alum

Put sliced cucumbers in a jar with pepper, dill seed and garlic bulb.

Boil 1 quart white vinegar, 2 quarts water, 3/4 cup pickling salt and 1/2 teaspoon alum. Pour into the jars and seal them.

DO NOT OVERPACK JARS.

For questions: Call Aunt JoAnn. I don't do hot pickles. LOL

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie

This recipe card is from Grandma’s Kitchen. The mixture of chocolate, ice cream and Rice Krispies intrigues me.

The card offers a “secret” way to get a clean knife cut when serving the pie. It must be a Southern thing. I learned how to do it the same way from my Mama. Just wet the blade of a knife in hot water and cut. Then wet it with hot water again, wipe the knife clean, and cut again. It works really well on meringue pies as well.

Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Pie

½ cup chocolate syrup
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups crisp rice cereal
¼ cup sour cream
1 quart chocolate chip ice cream, softened

Coat bottom and sides of an 8-inch pie plate lightly with butter.

Combine chocolate syrup and chocolate chips in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH until hot, about 45 seconds. Stir until smooth. Reserve ¼ cup of the chocolate mixture.

Combine remaining chocolate mixture and cereal in a medium bowl and mix to coat cereal. Press mixture over bottom and up sides of prepared pie plate. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.

Combine reserved chocolate mixture and the sour cream in a small bowl and mix well. Spread half the ice cream in the prepared pie plate. Drizzle with half the sour cream mixture. Top with remaining ice cream and drizzle with remaining sour cream mixture.

Freeze pie, covered, until firm, about 1 hour.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.