It’s getting HOT🔥HOT🔥HOT🔥 in My Kitchen!!

It’s August here in CT and it’s HOT, so what am I doing? Making even MORE heat in my kitchen.. WHY?? Because I love pain?? ☹️☹️😢😢

No, Because I have a bumper crop of luscious red goodness 🍅🍅and I have to save it for those winter months when I only have store-bought tomatoes to cook with or cardboard-tasting ones from the grocery store.

I have done my harvesting, and now I am making like Martha Stewart, preparing my tomatoes to add to my yummy Swiss Chard soup And freezing some smaller packages to add to other winter recipes.🥫🥫

I will give you these brief instructions and if you still need more details or if you want to know any of my other “ secrets” about growing tomatoes, or other veggies, just give me a call, I love to share. I’ll add my Tomato-Swiss Chard Soup recipe here too, in case you have lots of chard, spinach or any other greens you are growing and want to cook.🥬🥬

Freezing Tomatoes

1- wash off tomatoes

2-put a few tomatoes in boiling hot water for about 1-2 minutes

3-quickly take out those tomatoes and then place in ICE cold water for 2-3 minutes

4- peel off tomato skin

5- gently squeeze out extra juice, place in crockpot ( if making soup,) …or, if you are freezing to use later, place on cookie sheet, 1 layer, leave space in between

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Cover and Freeze overnight and then separate and place frozen tomatoes in pint or quart bags, as you will use them later and put in freezer.( FYI, Vacuum Bags are “ Magic”, and so fun to use!!)

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For Swiss Chard soup or to cook down for recipes:

1-put 1 quart of peeled tomatoes in crockpot( to keep kitchen a bit cooler), temperature is on high for 4 hours.

Add your spices to taste, I add about 1 tsp each of mixed herbs, garlic powder, fresh minced garlic( always better),1/2 tsp. of salt and pepper.

2-I transfer tomato sauce to stovetop pot, and Add 2 cups chicken broth. Bring to gentle boil.

3- Add 3-4 large handfuls of cleaned, chopped greens to hot broth. Cook until greens are tender, about 5 minutes.

You can eat this yummy soup now, or add some really tiny pasta or rice for a change. Be careful though, the pasta or rice will soak up your broth.. don’t add too much , maybe only a 1/2 cup to 4-6 cups of broth. You really do have to experiment to determine what proportions are perfect for you. Now YOU can feel like Martha Stewart too!!

Bon Appetit!!