Summer is ending. The kids are back in school, and we are on the cusp of fall. I’ve even seen a few leaves…

While I’m not overjoyed at losing my freedom and bike rides to the beach, I’m really excited that classes are starting up again. I’m looking forward to getting back into the classroom, and to having a more dependable schedule. This time of the year also means harvest, and I’m taking full advantage.

There’s something about canning and preserving that makes me feel really smug. A recent trip to Richmond Country Market cost me $20, and out of that produce, I made three large jars of salsa, three 250-ml jars of chutney, and about the same of peach-apricot jam. A friend had previously brought me plums, blackberries and blueberries, and those went into various chutneys and jams, as well. These things will not only get me through the next year or so without having to buy jam, chutney or salsa, but I’ve saved a lot of money by buying and preserving at the height of the season when the produce is freshest and cheapest.

See? Smug.

I’m also really loving my new Bernardin Home Canning Kit, so this week’s posts will be all about canning and preserving.

First up: my famous “Kitchen Sink” Salsa. I call it “Kitchen Sink” salsa, because basically everything but the kitchen sink goes in it. If you don’t like something, don’t put it in. If you like something, put in more! One thing I love in salsa is a little fruit. It adds to the sweetness. I’ve often used mangos, but this time around, I just happened to have peaches, so one of those babies was what made it into the 2013 vintage.

One last thing: I am lazy. I don’t peel my tomatoes. I don’t chop them by hand. Life’s too short, and so is summer, my friends…  Ain’t nobody got time for that.

“Kitchen Sink” Salsa

Ingredients: 

• 5 lbs beefsteak tomatoes (or whatever you can get that’s local and ripe)
• 2 peppers (of any variety–use banana or jalapeño if you need a kick)
• 1 small onion
• 3 large cloves of garlic, or one head of garlic, roasted
• 6 green onions
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 bunch cilantro (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon each of chili and cumin
• Chipotle pepper to taste (or 2 chopped chipotles from the can)
• 1/4 cup lime juice

Kitchen-sink add-ons:

• Corn (roast on the BBQ on the cob, and then slice off the kernels with a knife)
• a can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 mango or peach, skinned and chopped fine
• 1 can of tomato paste

Method: 

• In a food processor, place the garlic and the onion, and process until finely chopped. Remove and put aside.
• Cut each of the tomatoes in halves, and then remove the cores with your knife. Quarter each tomato, and then add it to the food processor. Process on low, or pulse, until the tomatoes are your desired chunkiness. You’ll have to do this in batches.
• In a large pot (like a dutch oven or stock pot), heat a couple tablespoons of vegetable oil, and add the onion/garlic mixture to it. Saute for 5-10 minutes, until they are fragrant, then add the tomatoes. Stir well, and every 5 minutes or so once they are simmering.
• Seed and hand-chop the peppers, and then chop them fine in the food processor. Add to the tomatoes. Season with s/p, lime, cumin, chili and chipotle. Add in your add-ons as well.
• Prep the green onions and cilantro by roughly chopping with a knife, and finely chopping in the food processor.
• Your salsa should take about a half and hour to cook down to the desired consistency. If you feel like it’s too watery, add a can of tomato paste, or remove a cup or so and blend it, then put it back into the pot. Keep tasting it and adding spices until you get it to how you like it.
• Finally, add in the green onions and cilantro. Cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
• Either allow to cool and store in the fridge for immediate use, or preserve in jars (using the instructions here) for use later. Makes approximately 1.5 litres.