C is for Canning...

One thing I love about this time of year is all the goodies that are growing in my yard. Thanks to my husband I have a wonderful garden every year. He turns over the ground, plans, plants, and weeds. The kids and I pick all the produce & cook. Two things we make sure we can plenty of is salsa & spaghetti sauce.

I have been using this salsa recipe for years, and it is the best we have ever made.

Salsa
10 lbs. tomatoes
1 green bell pepper
7 jalapenos (more or less to taste)
2 medium onions
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons black pepper
4 teaspoons salt

Peel tomatoes by dipping in boiling water for 60 seconds and then dip in cold water. The peel should slide right off. Chop peeled tomatoes & vegetables into bite sized pieces and just heat it until it is hot. Process in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes. Makes about 10 pints.

Our favorite spaghetti sauce comes from the Kerr Kitchen Cookbook published in 1990. I don't use the recipe exactly as it is written, it is very similar.

Spaghetti Sauce 
30 lbs. tomatoes
1 cup green bell peppers
1 cup chopped onions
5 cloves of crushed garlic
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup dried parsley
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 Tablespoon oregano
4 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper

Peel tomatoes by dipping in boiling water for 60 seconds and then dip in cold water. The peel should slide right off. Run peeled tomatoes through a sieve or blender. I use a blender because it is faster & we don't mind the seeds. Saute peppers, onions, & garlic in olive oil until they are tender. Add sauteed veggies & everything else to the tomatoes. Bring to a boil and cook on low until it is thick enough for serving, about 6 hours. Process in pressure canner according to manufacturers directions for 20 minutes for pints & 25 minutes for quarts. Makes 4-5 quarts.

I usually can enough salsa & spaghetti sauce to last all year. If I have more tomatoes then I will make V-8 that we use in chili or tomato soup.

What about you? Do you can? What is your family favorites?

Thanks Marcy for hosting Blogging through the Alphabet.