Jalapeno Salsa

Finally!!!
We have the chance to make and can salsa!
The recipe will follow...but here are the photos!

Three cups of peppers...we do about half hot peppers and half sweet (red and yellow bell, Hungarian, and cherry peppers).

Locally grown organic garlic...not from our garden, but we do have garlic on order from Seed Savers for next year!

Waiting to cook...

Ready to be ladled into the jars.

We are not always good to keep track of the recipes we try from year to year, but here is the recipe we are using this year...so far, it tastes good. : ) I say, "so far," because it does change while it sits after canning, but we expect it to get nothing but better. We have found that if it gets more flavorful (and hotter) while it rests.



If you will not be canning it, then the ratio of ingredients won't matter...make it as you like!



Taken from the Ball Canning Guide:



CANNED JALAPENO SALSA RECIPE


Makes 3 pints
3 cups peeled, chopped tomatoes
3 cups seeded, chopped jalapeno peppers (we did a mix of peppers)
1 cup chopped onion
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tb minced cilantro
2 tsp oregano
1 ½ tsp salt
½ tsp cumin
1 cup cider vinegar
Combine all ingredients in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, then simmer 10 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent scorching. Pour into clean jars leaving 1/4 inch head space. Process 15 minutes in a boiling water canner.
Note: It is safe to change the ratio of hot to mild peppers; just do not add more than 3 cups total peppers. The amount of onion may be decreased, but not increased. The amount of vinegar CANNOT be decreased. The salt is present for quality flavor and can be omitted. If you wish to add DRY spices such as cayenne pepper, dried cilantro, or hot pepper flakes; that is safe to do.

Grilled Veggies

We grill out as much as possible...year around.
In the summer, we eat this a few times a week.

Grilled Veggies

1 potato per person
2 carrots "
1/2 pepper "
1/2 onion "
(you can add other things like pea pods, green beans, summer squash, beets)

*Cube potatoes and carrots into 3/4" pieces. cook in microwave until just soft (do not cook all the way or they will get too mushy on the grill).
*Slice peppers and onions as you like. we cut the onions into 1/8ths, and the peppers into similar sized slices. you will not need to precook these veggies (or pea pods and summer squash. beans need just a bit of precooking, beets need more, like the potatoes)
*Pour a few tablespoons of olive oil in a large bowl. add all the veggies.
*Season as you like. Following is what we use. (this is for 5 or more servings...we do have three growing gardeners to feed!) adjust seasoning to your tastes.

2 tsp Penzeys Spicy 4S seasoned sea salt
1 tsp McCormick's Worcestershire Ground Black Pepper Blend
1 tsp garlic salt (or garlic powder)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp sweet Hungarian paprika
1/2 tsp crushed Red Pepper seeds (the type you find at pizza restaurants...we use hot ones, though. if you don't appreciate spicy food...leave this out)
1 tsp ground turmeric
a few dashes of cayenne powder (again, leave out if you don't like the heat)

Another yummy seasoning is simply chopped up fresh rosemary leaves and a little sea salt.

*Put all seasoned veggies in a grill pan and cook on grill, stirring often, until veggies start to caramelize. this takes at least 30 minutes of grill time.

Enjoy your grilled farm fresh veggies!

Mixed Veggie Pasta

Here is one of our favorite summer recipes. It is yummy and changes as the garden does.

Mixed Veggie Pasta

-your favorite pasta (we like farfalle)

-a variety of your favorite garden veggies. : ) yes, it's a very scientific recipe.

-meat as you like

tonight we used:

onions, chopped
carrots, finely chopped

beets, chopped

pea pods, cut into thirds,

swiss chard, cut into strips

(soon we will be adding beans, summer squash, tomatoes, a variety of peppers, etc)

saute onions in olive oil. Start adding other veggies from the most firm (carrots) to the most tender (swiss chard...it gets piled on top, then I simply set the cover on top). We gently soften everything...you can saute as much or as little as you like.

put your favorite pasta in a dish and layer these yummy veggies over the top. We also added a little well seasoned/herbed locally raised ground beef. yum!