Autumnal Delights...

To see the full post please click...HERE !

Another SIMPLE Way to Preserve All Those Tomatoes!

Image: FOOD IN JARS

Marisa from the wonderful food~preservation blog FOOD IN JARS has a great post today on yet another SIMPLE way to preserve (and make use of) the abundance of tomatoes available to us now. How? She slow~roasts them! I, for one, am so excited to try this technique as I've tasted slow~roasted tomatoes and there is nothing like them for flavor!





To learn more just click on the link below!





Slow Oven-Roasted Roma Tomatoes | Food in Jars





Hope you are enjoying this relaxing holiday weekend!





Love and good thoughts to all.





Warmly,




Tracey and Family




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Simple Secrets: How to Fast Freeze Fresh Tomatoes at Home

When the farm stand tomatoes are so well priced at five (or more) for just one dollar I like to buy them in abundance and freeze them for future use.




For awhile...I took on the tedious, humid task of blanching each one before freezing...until...a generous friend told me that she has been skipping the blanching process for years. How? She simply places the fresh tomatoes onto a tray or cookie sheet and pops them directly into the freezer...similar to freezing berries. Of course, I was immensely attracted to the idea and implemented it immediately with great success. So much so that I've been using this useful trick for well over a decade!






Once the tomatoes are frozen solid (several hours or overnight) I pop them into a large zip lock bag.






Whenever a recipe calls for canned tomatoes I pull a few from my freezer bag and set it into a pan or bowl of water (no need to heat it, room temperature works fine) fully frozen. I let them sit for a few minutes while I putter around doing something else. Then I scoop it out of the water and peel it over the sink.






Using my thumb and forefinger I rub the outside of the tomato. The peel slides right off. At the core I may have to loosen it a bit with my fingernail or a butter knife. I then carefully dice the still partially frozen tomatoes and add them to my recipe. So simple.






HINT: I use frozen tomatoes in lieu of canned tomatoes in recipes such as soup, salsa, Chile', marinara sauce and the like.



Once you try this you will be hooked. It's amazing how this little trick transformed a tedious, time consuming task into a simple, easy and quick way to freeze large quantities for use in cooking.




I hope this little trick enhances your time, budget and life as much as it has mine!


Good thoughts and love to all.


Warmly,


Tracey


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Simple...Soothing...Food

I happened upon the most amazing photographs by the talented photographer Christine Bauer yesterday while relaxing at my father's house. Of course...I feel compelled to share their loveliness here (i.e. above) and HERE . To see more of Christine Bauer's portfolio click HERE. Hope you enjoy their serene beauty as much as I.

Warmly,


Tracey



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Images:Source

Adorned with Herbs and Flowers...Homemade Cake

...found this charming cake on the Frolic blog and love...love...love the way they used fresh herbs and flowers to decorate...along with mismatched china saucers to serve it forth. Happy Fourth! x0x

The Spring Gift~Pantry: Good Thoughts Soup tm

"Necessity never made a good bargain."

~~Benjamin Franklin


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Click below to see how we're...

Working Ahead of Need:

Preparing for the Holidays All Year Round

Salt of the Earth...

Click HERE to see what we're doing with one~and~lonely salt shakers and pregnant onions!

Rummaging Up Emblems of Spring.

To see more rummaged~up emblems of spring click HERE!

Disclosing Secrets...Magic Mottos..."Making Something From Nothing" tm

I have a little secret...actually it's not really a secret...I just haven't written about it on these blogs yet. Today, then, is the day I will tell you my little story.

Please click HERE to continue.

Win This Book...Time for Another Frugal Luxuries tm Book Give Away!

Please click HERE to find out how to enter!