It's a new week :)
Things are back to normal here so it's looking like a productive week on our little corner of the world.
It started with TOMATOES , AGAIN :)
At 8:30 this morning I had this ...
... after blanching all of them it was time for an energy drink... otherwise known as a green smoothie...
... lots of good yummy stuff in these.
Then it was on to cooking and canning all of those yummy red fruits...
Five and a half hours , an avocado and some zucchini slices later we end up with this...
Fourteen jars of stored sunshine for soups and sauces later this winter :)
A few cookie sheets with tomato skins drying in the oven. These will be ground into a powder and used to enhance the tomato flavor in foods that I cook.
I've been doing his since the late 80's when an eighty year old neighbor shared her secret with me. "Why are you throwing away all of that great flavor? " She asked as I dumped a bowl of skins into the compost pile :) She's right they are full of great flavor and color.
Does anyone else do this?
Lots of critters hanging out in the yard today..
We have a pair of box turtles that live here...some years we see little ones but not so far this year...
... and this year we must have a gazillion of these blue-tailed skinks.... it must be because of all the rain we've had this year. The only thing that might out number them are the frogs... tree frogs in particular :) ....
... I even found one living in one of the bird houses...
...not the best photos but I only had my cellphone and it was a too far away.
Pink Poppies blooming in the wildflower garden bed. I found a pack of seeds in a box last month and it was dated 2008 I threw them out in a corner of the new flowerbed I'm starting for wild flowers and surprise they sprouted and grew!
Moon-flowers and Naked Lady Lilies blooming along the side of the house.
...Today's Random Thoughts...
So that's what's going on in my world today :)
Tomorrow I tackle the deck... hubs has it all power washed for me...it's been entirely way to long since we've stained it :(
Take care and be sure and visit the other folks at "T" Stands for Tuesday .
The button is on my sidebar :)
♥
I think you live in paradise.There are so many beautiful things to see here: turtles, frogs, etc and the flowers are amazing!.We use tomato sauce to cook a lot here as well as garlic and onions. We don't like canned food much.Love your post.Thanks for sharing your world!
ReplyDeleteFrog in a bird house..? Well i never! So glad you shared! Happy happy Tday! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteWow Carol. I learn something new each time I visit. I never knew to keep the tomato skins and cook them. Pretty awesome and nothing is wasted.
ReplyDeleteTree frogs and turtles. How much fun it must be to live where you are.
I remember drinking those green smoothies when I was in CA. I like them, but I still think they taste like grass. They were definitely good with my morning coffee.
Thanks for sharing your flowers, your canned tomatoes, your tomato skins tip, and your smoothie with us for T this Tuesday. Glad your life is back to normal this week.
Love the frog in the bird house! Those tomatoes look wonderful, it was a lot of work, but you did it, well done! Great idea with the skins, too, never thought of that! Have a great day, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteYour frog peeking out of the birdhouse is too cute. He is a high jumper LOL.
ReplyDeleteLots of good stuff going on in your garden AND in your kitchen Carol!
Great tip about the tomato skins too...waste not want not and all that :-)
We have a moonflower vine this year and the fragrance is so delicate absolutely perfect paired with your naked ladies!
Thanks for a fun visit and Happy T Day oxo
In all the years my mom canned tomatoes when I was a kid, she never saved the skins--what a great tip from your friend!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute photo of the frog in the birdhouse!
I am impressed with your kitchen talents! It would be very nice to have stored sunshine in the form of your very own tomatoes in the winter! We have turtles too and have seen a tree frog in one of our bluebird houses a few years ago. Happy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteI love the wildlife, but I never see skinks or frogs or turtles at our house. In the parks, yes, but I love the idea of seeing baby box turtles from my window. Fun!
ReplyDeletewow I am envious of all your tomatoes-we just are getting any-they rotting away on me sigh
ReplyDeleteI've heard of using the skins to make a thicker tomato sauce but never to dry them for a powder. Makes total sense to me though. If I end up canning any I'll definitely give that a try!
ReplyDeleteDelightful post Carol...glad you have tomatoes! My parents' garden just didn't do well this year and guess we will be buying tomatoes this winter. Love the garden pics & Naked Ladies! I have them too, though some people call them Surprise Lilies, but our title is much more colorful!
ReplyDeleteI did receive your atc and tag in the mail. Lovely card and envelope too! I will share them on my blog if that's ok with you. Love the sparkly winter atc! happy T day! ♥
I never heard of drying tomato skins to make powder but it sounds like a brilliant idea!
ReplyDeleteLove the critter pics. So green and lush there. Happy T-Day! :)
Wow what a lot of work you have done!! Love the idea of the tomatoes skins and what beautiful flowers you have!! Staining the deck go you... that's a big job!! Glad you are feeling better this week...love all the critters...so cute!! Great place of nature!
ReplyDeleteHugs Giggles
Wonderful post Carol!
ReplyDelete