Shelby

I do not like raw tomatoes that have either been in the fridge or the freezer....it changes the taste big time to me. I'd take the time to boil water, put the tomatoes in for a few seconds and then place in a sink full of cold water...then peel. Place in a pot and simmer on the stove for a while. THEN freeze. Thaw and then make your sauce if you don't have the time now. I'm very picky about my tomatoes

A few weeks ago I found the containers on Amazon. $20 for 2 so I bought 4....probably too much money, but like you, I needed more. They weren't supposed to get here until like the end of September, but they got here a few days ago. I was going to post the link here so you could get some if you wanted, but they are no longer available for that price and the prices listed now are crazy .

Those tails do look really meaty and good. Can't wait to see what you make! With all that's been going on in life I totally forgot about this cook-off. I need to step it up because I want to try to make something.

I have frozen rhubarb.....need to try this.

Finally made watermelon sorbet. It was good.....not as good as the cantaloupe.....a little icy. I only did pureed melon and simple syrup....maybe add some cream next time?

@Steve Irby Your fried red potatoes looks awesome. I need to try that. @kayband @JoNorvelleWalkerUGH I hope both of you get your AC fixed very very soon. @Ann_TI would think I was in heaven if I had some of your escargot. I haven't had that for YEARS. @Kim ShookEvery bit of Mr. Kim's birthday meals looks incredible. I want. Happy Birthday Mr. Kim!!! Many many more!! Pizza night--jalapeno, black olive, pepperoni Breakfast--sausage gravy and sausage on the side, because you need more sausage. Dryer shot craps so I was making a million trips down stairs to make room for a new one and the delivery person. Soooo...not wanting to waste trips I started bringing up the fall decorations...hence the pumpkin plates Fried walleye, okra, tomatoes, Mac and cheese. Quite possibly a favorite meal beneath spaghetti Venison meatloaf ....beans from the garden Mexican--corn tortillas, pork filling, tomatillo sauce My once yearly make of Vivian Howard's pork in watermelon sauce --soooo good.

I haven't had enough tomatoes to can any this summer . However, I'm grateful to have plenty to eat every day and I've done some spaghetti sauce, so it's all good. Maybe we will have a surprise surge in September. It's just been too hot. I don't know if it's because I learned to can using a water bath or what, but I'm just more comfortable doing it that way......I DO love the ease of pressure canning and every summer I try a batch of tomatoes...but the failure rate is always much greater than when I water bath. I must not do something quite right....the pressure causes seeds and or bits of tomato to get under the lid when I pressure can and it seems like at least one jar doesn't seal. I do great with green beans using that method though. Like Kay, I don't add acid and also like Kay the variety of tomatoes that we plant have high acid amounts. I know the rules changed sometime in the 90's in the Blue canning "bible" and they say to add lemon juice....I just have never had a problem so I don't do it.

Unless it's some variety that I don't know about, you want to pick them way before they get to 9". The older/longer mine get, the more woody they become. Here's my average picking size:

What I wouldn't give for this right now! YUM

OMG I had stinging nettles...don't tell my Mom....outside my window when we lived in Colorado...I'd open it up and sit..boy did I learn a lesson. Nettles on the bottom of my feet. NOT GOOD lol. No take out around here...or I would lol.

Thanks so so much everyone. You've made my day--and yeah....I've been whining a bit lol..... It'll get better. It always does. Especially with you guys as my friends

Got enough jalapeños from the garden to do something with, but not enough to get the canner out for. So, I did a quart of refrigerator pickled jalapeños. Will last for months.

@DejahI'm so sorry about your husband's health problems and your poor tooth problems! I empathize with you. Your meals, as always, look incredible. @Norm MatthewsYour crab leg meal is calling out! Lucky you to find them on sale. We haven't found a good price on them since before the pandemic. @Kim ShookUUUGHHHHH on the fridge situation. All that moving of food to find out it just hadn't been closed. BUT, at least you maybe don't have to buy a new one. My dryer shot craps Monday night and I was terrified that my appliance guy wouldn't have one in stock. I was lucky...I'm supposed to get one on Friday (fingers crossed) but I've heard horror stories about no appliances to be found for months. Also, you're not alone, my fridge gets packed especially when our guest is here or I have a bunch of garden produce. It does ding though over and over to alert me when the door isn't sealed..... @Ann_TI never would have thought about making Italian patties. Great idea. I've had the worst poison ivy I've ever had (and I have it all the time so that's saying something). I looked like Sloth from the Goonies and I am not kidding. Got a steroid shot last Friday (we all know how scared I am of the doctor so...sigh...) and am on oral steroids too. Looking back, my 47th year of being alive has been.....challenging....lol. Hoping being 48 in a couple months changes my luck. Upside is the steroids really improved my leg situation and the vasculitis.....we'll see if it stays that way after my doses are done. Blah. Sorry about so much medical stuff. I'm venting lol. Garden is on the struggle bus, too. Getting some things like watermelons and cantaloupes...cucumber still ok. Zucchini up and died. Yellow squash trying to hang on. Haven't had to sneak any in anyone's car this year.....The poor tomatoes. I don't know if they will give me a burst in Sept. or not. Haven't canned a thing but did have enough to make another batch for dinner and the freezer. Chicken gyros Venison taco salad last night

A woman after my own heart

My order day was yesterday and they offered them...maybe they will have them next time for you.

I tried years ago to make them from scratch. Never came out as good as canned.

Mayocoba Just looked back in my phone at the photo I took. Very creamy.

I love cold baked beans. I've done the same many a morning.

Annnnnnd I'm having my annual fig and thomcord grape envy. That looks so good.

We gave our first watermelon away but got rave reviews on how good it was, so we picked one for us today. I will definitely be making sorbet. I froze the cantaloupe mixture, too, so I'll have some for this winter.

Mostly the usual stuff. Got a cold pack box, too, because they had that really good Italian sausage back in stock. I've learned to purchase a lot because you never know if they will get it again lol. First time buying their scallops. The star, though, was this: Highly recommend if they have them still. We ate them all in one day.

Been a bit of a rough go this last week. I've fallen very behind on putting up garden items. Hopefully I get my mojo back today and can make a dent in some things. Dinners still happened though! Salsa from all garden stuff Steak fajitas kind of with RG beans. I need to look up the last box they sent. These were the BEST beans. Smoked ribs and sausages. Beans from the garden. Shrimp Alfredo with @gfweb's squash (roasted with cheddar and parm cheese) IP potato salad and hot wings @Kim ShookEG is going to revoke my membership for posting about this The cheesy cauliflower --I boiled a cut up head of cauliflower in salted water until tender (I think like 10 mins or so?) Drained. Added most of a jar of Cheeze Whiz. Stirred. Black pepper. Done.

I had some Georgia peaches and some strawberries that were going south so I peeled the peaches, diced both fruits, added some sugar and simmered on the stove for a bit. I was going to make a syrup to pour over vanilla ice cream, but life got in the way so ice cream didn't get made. DUH, Shelby, make a sorbet! So I did that this morning. Really creamy and good.

That looks amazing. Gorgeous picture.

I PROMISE (and I don't promise lightly) that you will love this book.