Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Matt and Sheri's SALSA

ok.. so basically.. there is no recipe for our salsa..
but here's what we do..

1 1/3 cups APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ( DO NOT use a different kind.. this is IMPERATIVE)
9 cups chopped up plum tomatoes
6 cups of peppers chopped up.. we use whatever we have around.. we combine jalapenos, banana peppers, sweet green peppers, carribean hot peppers.. whatever we have around.. hots first and then fill the measuring cup with sweet green peppers
half an onion
a handful of cilantro
clove of garlic
tsp sea salt


so I put this into 500 ml jars and can them for 20 minutes. hasn't killed anyone so far. :)


you could use the store bought salsa mix. this is what's in it..
. Ingredients: dehydrated vegetables (green and red bell peppers, onion, and garlic), salt, spices (including garlic and onion powder), tomato powder, corn starch, yeast powder, guar gum, xanthan gum, beet powder, natural and artificial flavour, and silicon dioxide.

but I really don't see the point.... not sure why I want guar gum and xanthan gum in my salsa.. or silicone dioxide for that matter..

chocolate mayonnaise cake

preheat oven to 350

2 cups flour
2/3 cups cocoa
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
3 eggs
1 2/3 cups less one tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mayonnaise
1 1/3 cups water


combine them all until well mixed and put into a greased and floured cake pan
bake for 30 minutes or until an inserted fork comes out clean

for the frosting..

1/3 cup of melted butter
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk

This is WAY better than any boxed cake mix or any other chocolate cake recipe I've tried :)

grandma grace's chili sauce

6 quarts tomatoes
1/4 cup salt
3 cups vinegar
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
4 onions

simmer these for 2 1/2 hours

then add

4 apples (sauced)
3 cups sugar

then simmer for 1 hr

can into hot sterile jars.

Friday, September 18, 2009

When is a good time to can this?

So.. if you can.. and if you're anything like me.. you totally lose track of when things get ripe.. and then get caught unaware.. and end up doing a grocery shop with half the weekly budget going to buying one type of thing to can.. and the rest of the groceries kinda getting forgotten about.
Then I found this list.. totally awesome!

It's also great to know what's in season locally so that you can be sure to support local economy, eat the freshest produce possible, get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck, and get the BEST tasting food possible!

so.. here's the list
First.. Strawberries, first week of june until mid july

Then.. cherries, mid june til mid july
wax beans mid june until mid october
broccoli and cauliflower mid june until end of october
peas mid june until early october

then.. blueberries, early july until late september
peaches, mid july until mid september
carrots mid july until end of october
tomatoes mid july until mid october
apples, mid july until mid october

then.. grapes mid august until mid october
pears late august until mid october
squash mid august until end of october

This is all relevant to zone 5... or niagara region at least :)