Easy Way to Preserve your tomatoe harvest ~~

Easy Freezer Method for Tomatoes ~~

Not having time to can my tomatoes this year so I've recently found a way to preserve them and I am very pleased with my results ...

Wash tomatoes in water
Remove any bad spots and the core
Slice into quarters or smaller depending on size of tomato
Lay on a sheet pan in single rows and fill pan
Drizzle with Olive Oil
Sprinkle with dried garlic, fresh chopped garlic or garlic powder
Salt and Pepper to your taste
Sprinkle with either dried or fresh Oregano and Basil
May also add slices of green pepper or hot pepper if you prefer
Roast in 350 degree oven for an hour and a half
   (May need to adjust roasting time depending on sweetness of
      your tomatoes as they do have some sugar content and will burn)
Remove from oven and put into clean canning jars.
Filling to recommended fill line for freezing.
Add cleaned lids and rings,
Mark date and contents and put into your freezer.
Pull jars out of freezer and allow to thaw when you need.
Can be used as is in soups, stews, sauces, pizza, salsas, chilli's, etc.
Put into blender and blend if you want a puree type sauce.
I used various sizes of canning jars for different needs.

Fall-icious ~~~

Fresh Tomatoe Frittata

• 12 fresh eggs
• 3/4 cup half n half
• fresh thyme, parsley, oregano, basil
• salt n pepper
• 1 chopped garlic clove
• 3-4 green onions (use some of the green tops for color)
• 2 tbs butter
• 2 links of Italian sausage (take out of casing)
• 1 large cast iron pan
• 1 tomatoe sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese your choice

Fry sausage till done, then add garlic and onions and cook till almost soft, remove to paper towel to absorb grease. In bowl beat eggs with half n half, then add pinch of fresh chopped thyme, oregano and basil, salt n pepper to your taste, then add sausage, garlic and onion mixture and mix together well. Wipe out skillet with paper towel, then add 2 Tbs. butter and melt. Add the ingredients in the bowl to the skillet, sprinkle top with cheese, and lay tomatoes on top of that. Sprinkle some of the chopped onion tops along with some fresh parsley (dried will do, too) and bake at 350 degrees till done. Serve this with some Italian bread that was toasted in a skillet with olive oil, fresh fruit drizzled with sweetened condensed milk and hot coffee.

You can add black olives and substitute anchovies for the sausage but then eliminate the salt.

Tipsy Pots 09 ~~

My "Tipsy Pot" 2009

January is Hot Tea Month

January is National Hot Tea Month

New York, NY, January 1, 2009 - January is National Hot Tea Month and is also the height of the dreaded “cold and flu season”. The CDC estimates that there will be more than 200,000 Americans affected by the cold and flu this year, which leads to missing work, school and even social gatherings. So what can one do to avoid the cold and flu?

The CDC strongly recommends an annual flu vaccine as the best way to reduce the chances that you will get the flu. In addition, drinking hot tea may also help you stay healthy during the cold and flu season.

Published research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard University indicates that theanine, an ingredient found naturally in tea, supports the immune system. A cup of tea contains an average of 20- 25 mg of theanine. Drinking tea throughout the day may strengthen the immune system which is something important to do during the cold and flu season.

Drinking five cups of Black Tea a day for two to four weeks boosted the body’s immune defense system by four times, according to the results of a human clinical trial. According to this study, the data suggests that drinking Black Tea boost’s the body’s natural resistance to infection.1

Tea also contains flavonoids, which are naturally occurring compounds known for their antioxidant properties. Antioxidants work to neutralize free radicals, which scientists believe damage elements in the body, such as genetic material and lipids, and contribute to many chronic diseases.

The CDC states that healthy adults have a 30% chance of contracting the flu even with an annual flu vaccination, and the vaccine may be somewhat less effective for children and the elderly. And while drinking tea may not keep you from getting sick this season, it can help your odds of staying healthy.

So why not do something good for your body while having a hot beverage…help stay healthy this cold and flu season and drink your tea every day! For more information about the role of tea in a healthy diet and lifestyle, please visit www.TeaUSA.org.

Press Release From: Tea Council of the USA

1.1 Kamath AB, Wang L, Das H, Li L, Reinhold VN, Bukowski JF. Antigens in tea-beverage prime human Vgamma 2Vdelta 2 T cells in vitro and in vivo for memory and nonmemory antibacterial cytokine responses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2003 May 13;100(10):6009-14. Epub 2003 Apr 28.

ReVamp in progress ...

Cleaning, papering, time to move things around!

Pam <><

Tipsy Pots ~~

I want to make one of these in my garden ... they look really neat!

Mine's done ... very similar to this one ... I tried to get the same flowers
only I used plastic pots from Dollar General.

Some lovin' from the oven! ...

Gram's Raisin Drop Cookies ...

This recipe is from my Gram who lived along Cabbage Creek. The recipe is marked "1939 Grama Sell's recipe" which would make her my Great-Great-Grandmother.

Take one box of raisins (15 oz) put in pan, cover with water and cook till plump. Water should be down to about 4 tbs. Set aside and cool completely.
Then take:
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup shortening
Cream together well.
Mix together 1 cup evaporated milk, 3 tbs. vinegar and 1 tsp. baking soda.
(this foams up so put it in big enough bowl - it will more than double).
Add this mixture to the above creamed mixture.
Add 3 cups of flour sifted. Mix well.
Then add the pan of raisins - water and all.
Fold in lightly.
Then add two handfuls of coconut. May also add nuts if desired.


Batter is to be fluffy but not too stiff. Let stand 1/2 hour and then add more flour if need be.

Drop by tablespoons on greased sheet and bake in pre-heated 350 degree oven for 18 minutes.

Layer between waxed paper in container with tight fitting lid. Cookies soften as they set.

Bake up a batch, put on the coffee and have a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Blessings!

Pam