Canning Tomatoes

This was our first time canning tomatoes and it was fun ! This is something I always wanted to do, and then when we went to Italy and saw their pantries full of canned tomatoes, we just had to do it!! We learned a lot and would definitely do it again!

We went to the local farmers market and got lots of delicious fresh fruits and vegetables!! We try to go once a week and stock up on all the freshness and also support our local farmers in Maine.

Ingredients: 11 Tomates, 1 tsp salt and 1/4 cup of Lemon Juice, 3 canning jars

Make sure to wash all tomatoes, cut an X on the bottom of each tomato before putting them in the water

We used a large dutch oven and filled with water, bring the water to a boil, drop tomatoes in the boiling water for 30 seconds, then using a “spoon with holes” (as my mother would call it) place all the tomatoes in an ice bath. After just a few minutes in the ice bath you will see the skins coming off, peel all the skin, squeeze out all the seeds into the bowl of skins. Over the dutch oven strain the bowl of skins and seeds so you get all the yummy juices back in the pan. Cut the tomato stems off and cut tomatoes (rough chop) and place in dutch oven. Add Salt. Bring to boil and then reduce to simmer for 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, boil jars, covers and lids for 10 minutes. Use a jar holder to pull out of water onto a cooling rack. Add a tablespoon of Lemon Juice to each jar, then add tomatoes. While still hot put lids and covers on jars and let cool on cooling rack.

Vwala!! For 11 tomatoes we got three medium jars of tomato sauce. (Also, had to put in my mothers “spoon with the holes” 🙂 which always makes me smile) Now, later in the fall when the weather is getting cooler we will be able to make our homemade sauce and add our spices and meatballs to make the most amazing red sauce, and feel a little bit like we are in Italy again!