Tomato Season...George's Chili Sauce!

It's Tomato Season!

Cutest tomato label ever!

Hello, sisters. Have you ever noticed that when you plant tomatoes that there is either too few...or too many?  I have the sinking feeling that this is the year of "too many."  The weather has been perfect for tomatoes...hot and sunny.  Now the plants are full of quickly ripening tomatoes...and I am not exactly in the mood to spend days huddled over a steaming canner.  Lucky for me, my husband George loves the "scientific process" of canning.  He'll do all the peeling and chopping...which I hate...and I will prepare the bottles and get the water bath canner steaming.  Fair trade I think!  In a few weeks we will make a few batches of raspberry jalapeno jelly.  You can find the recipe here: Raspbery Jalapeno Jelly.

 Of Course I Can!

She looks a tad shell-shocked if you ask me...lol!

Homemade Chili Sauce...

Yummy...better than store-bought!

George's Chili Sauce Recipe

Yield:  about six pint jars.

4 quarts peeled, cored, chopped tomatoes ( about 24 large)

2 cups chopped onions

2 cups chopped sweet red peppers (about 4 medium)

1 hot red pepper (we use the dried pepper flakes)

1 cup sugar

3 Tablespoons salt

3 Tablespoons mixed pickling spices

1 Tablespoon celery seed

1 Tablespoon mustard seed

2 1/2 cups vinegar

Combine tomatoes, onions, peppers, sugar and salt.  Simmer 45 minutes.  Tie spices in a cheesecloth bag; add to tomato mixture; cook until very thick, about 45 minutes, stirring frequently

Prepare home canning jars and lids according to manufacturers instructions.

Add vinegar to tomato mixture; cook to desired thickness. Remove spice bag.  Carefully pour hot sauce into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch  head space.  Adjust caps.

Process 15 minutes in boiling water bath canner. 

Pretty...as well as delicious!

Use for crockpot meatballs...serve over rice!

Better than Manwich for sloppy joes...a favorite late summer supper treat!

If anyone has a favorite recipe using the fruits of our gardening, I would love to share it here.  Also, the link to the August provident living goals will be found on the top right side of the blog post.  Summer goes by way too fast and in only a few weeks the kids will be back in school. Late summer is my favorite part of the season.  I love the sleepy feel of these hot August days and the bright drooping heads of the roadside sunflowers.  They and I must be in need of a good siesta!

Happy August, Sisters!

PS...This is a repost from 2013.