Canning and baking with ADD….

I seriously think that I should have been diagnosed with ADD, but I was born before they knew what that was, and being diagnosed wouldn’t have done me any good anyway. I seriously remember not being able to sit still in school, but I got over it. What I have never gotten over is starting little projects and never finishing them. Now when it is a super huge project, like organizing some great event, piece of cake. So perhaps we should be giving some of our fidgety children more instead of less. Yes, I agree that some can’t handle it, but perhaps there are two types of this disorder, and we need to pay attention to which one we have.

Now that I have my introduction or background paragraph out of the way, I can tell you what this is really about. I needed to do up some tomatoes today. I also needed to use up a bag of rhubarb that I thawed a few days ago. Top it all off with there were only two pieces of bread left. After sitting around most of yesterday feeling sorry for myself because my throat hurt after the Saturday event in the rain, I decided to get to work. Ok, clarify the event was fine, but it started raining right afterwards, so the reception was under a gazebo while it rained.

James and some of his brothers and families at the anniversary.

James’ sister Louise and husband Buck renewing vows with children as clergy for their 40th wedding anniversary.

More Haak family members at the anniversary.

The short version of what I did today was:

1. Baked two loaves of bread. Thankfully the bread machine is back in action. I thought that I had burned it out the last time I used it. Lesson learned to do a better job of cleaning it.

2. Baked a rhubarb bundt cake. It was a rhubarb nut coffee cake recipe. Of course I can never follow a recipe exactly, besides I didn’t have nuts. I put in coconut. I can’t wait until James gets home so we can eat some.

Rhubarb Bundt cake

3. Canned 9 quarts of tomato soup. I was going to do 7 soup and 7 spaghetti sauce, but I couldn’t tell how many tomatoes I would need, so I just took the ones that were obviously red. I still have two tables and the counter in the laundry room full. I moved a few out, but there still isn’t enough room for what is in the pails, and we should go pick some more. I have 16 quart jars left. I am thinking that I really need Jessica to bring those 10 jars to Paulina, and I might even have some filled ones waiting for her there.

Here is the recipe that I got from Vera via her daughter Connie.
2 gallows cut up tomatoes, 1 whole bunch of celery chopped, 1 green pepper, 6 medium onions, Cook all of this until soft then run through a sieve. Pictures below. To cold tomato juice add 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cups canning salt. Heat tomato mixture until boiling, slowly add flour mixture so it doesn’t clump. Add 1/2 cup oleo or margarine should be a gravy consistency. Process in pints at 5 pounds for 10 minutes. When cooking to eat add 1 cup of milk and a pinch of soda so it doesn’t curdle.

Here is the Grandma Lucinda’s version of the recipe.

Blanch tomatoes. I do what I have, but try to keep it around 7 quarts so it is just the amount to process. As I peel them I put them in the blender then run the blended hot tomatoes through a canning sieve, filling a large steel pot as I go. Last year I began spraying the pot when cold to avoid any sticking. My family does not like the flavor of the onions, peppers and celery, so I do leave those out. I add 1/4 cup of canning salt and 1/2 to 1 cup of sugar depends on the tomatoes, so you have to keep tasting to see what you like. I also add 1 stick of butter. Another trick I have figured with the addition of flour, I take some liquid out and mix it with the flour in my blender. This helps to prevent clumps. Add at least one cup of flour, but not more than two. Again check the flavor to your liking. I suspect the Blue Book would prefer if there were two table spoons of lemon juice per quart jar. I have never done that, but may try it. I process in a canner for 15-20 minuets. Today I had 2 jars too many. They did seal without processing, but I will probably use them right away or store them in the refrigerator.

Ball Blue Book canning

Here is what we mean by a sieve.

Full view of sieve. I always thought it was only for chokecherries, but found it works great with everything.

As you can see from the picture below, I should have made salsa, but I had so many of the Big Boy tomatoes that I had to do soup as I believe they make the best soup.

Peppers are coming in well right now.