Preserving Your Harvest

[pennyJo1960]

I roast them and then peel and remove the seeds. Then I blend the "meat" of the tomatoes into a puree. You can process a tomato puree right then or cook it down in a pot over a low simmer to thicken into sauce. I like to add garlic, onion, bell pepper, basil and oregano. Use canning salt rather than table salt. You can waterbath process it, but add 1/4 cup ACV per quart to increase acidity to make it shelf stable. You can alternatively pressure can or freeze the sauce.

Thank you! Thank you!

 

[BReeder!]

I harvested some pumpkins today. I baked two of them and made pumpkin puree. I used about half of it to make two pumpkin pies, which are baking in the oven now. I think I'm going to freeze one to eat later since we are not likely to eat two pies within a few days. For now though, I'm just hoping they turn out well. Using a new recipe I found online...

 

[Sueby]

Anybody have any experience with Pomona Pectin?

https://pomonapectin.com/

Supposedly you can make jams and such with little to no sugar. If I ever get back on the diet train, this would be helpful!!

That said, I did just make some damson preserves/jam sweetened with just stevia and seems like it turned out fine. Still a little tart but I like it that way (damsons have their own pectin).

I use Pomona in all of my personal jam because regular stuff is too sweet. I always make low/no sugar for myself. You have to add the calcium water to everything first & you need to add the pectin to the sugar before adding it or it clumps really bad (did that once). But I really like the Pomona & have used it for a few years.

 

[Sueby]

So did anyone do the cucumber chips? I have a batch (3 trays) of them in the dehydrator now. I used this recipe but added garlic powder, dill & a little extra salt.

https://farmtojar.com/salt-vinegar-cucumber-chips-baked-or-dehydrated/

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

My spices came today from My Spice Sage! Hopefully canning some relish tomorrow!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

So did anyone do the cucumber chips? I have a batch (3 trays) of them in the dehydrator now. I used this recipe but added garlic powder, dill & a little extra salt.

https://farmtojar.com/salt-vinegar-cucumber-chips-baked-or-dehydrated/

Please tell me what brands and sizes of dehydrators that everyone has???
I really need some information on the best ones.
I have a couple old ones without temperature controls and are plastic that I use for jerky. I doubt that would be good for apple slices?

 

[Sueby]

I have this dehydrator:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090WOCN0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have had a few others & I really like this one in that it has an adjustable thermostat & you can add trays to it (which I did). It's not super big like some of the 'commercial' ones you can get, but I can make a lot of beef jerky or cuke chips in this one. My sister has one, as does my niece, we all love it.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I have this dehydrator:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090WOCN0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have had a few others & I really like this one in that it has an adjustable thermostat & you can add trays to it (which I did). It's not super big like some of the 'commercial' ones you can get, but I can make a lot of beef jerky or cuke chips in this one. My sister has one, as does my niece, we all love it.

The reviews say it takes a long time to dehydrate foods? What has been the longest time yours has taken? Someone said 2 days.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I think I did get my off Amazon but can't pull it up.
Making Jerky takes that long

 

[Sueby]

It took about 5-6 hours to do the chips yesterday & takes about 10-12 hours or so to do jerky. I've never had anything take near 2 days. Maybe they made their jerky 3 inches thick.