Tomatoes for Christmas. How to give a gift of the garden, when December is far away.

So in the garden I never know what will do well. Sometimes I put all my heart and soul into a kind of plant, just to have it fail. The funny thing is there is always something that takes off and does great! I end up storing those for winter, or for gifts.

This year was my year for tomatoes and tomatillos. Nightshades and I where friends this year! There’s still plenty of time for you to harvest those last toms and get them ready for your friends and families to enjoy in the cold depths of winter. These are my best ways to make and package those home grown goods!

Salsa
I had peppers and tomatoes so it is easy to see why salsa is where I went. A fistful of ingredients and a caner gets you on your way!

What you will need.
10 farm fresh or CSA picked tomatoes; washed and chopped
6 fresh picked peppers (2 green, 2 orange, 2 red for the colors, but anything is better then nothing) chopped
3 onions, chopped
1/2 cup lemon or lime juice (I like lime better)
5 Jalepeno peppers diced (optional) (I don’t like really spicy things so I don’t add them, but many folks do)
1 pound of corn (I used frozen)
1 clove of garlic per jar
2 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoon chili powder
2 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon black pepper
Pressure caner, jars, rings, and lids,

Yields: 7 quarts and 4 pints

In a lage bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Raw pack into the jar, leaving a inch of head space. Raw packing is where you put the raw, uncooked ingredients into a jar. Do not do this with any meats.

Cook under 10 pounds of pressure for 20 minutes. Remember to let the pressure caner cool completely before taking out the jars.

When it is time to give your precious efforts away as gifts, get a cheap-to-free gift basket from a place that re-sells used goods. I find them at Goodwill for a buck, or a yard sales for nearly free. Never get the ones at the dollar store… They’re weak and don’t have enough room.

How to package
Put in the bottom of the basket some paper to give structure and take up space. Now add tortilla chips and cheddar cheese and salsas. Limes and lemons are a nice tough too, or a nip of tequila.

Oven dried cherry tomatoes
Why oven dried? Well because I don’t have a fancy dehydrator. In my oven at 230 degrees for 6 hours gets me close enough. I slice them and place them on a cookie sheet, and one very filled cookie sheet equals one stuffed 8 oz jar of dried tomatoes. Why no one ever tells people this is anyone’s guess, so there you go: I am here for you.

What you will need to jar them
Dried cherry tomatoes
Good olive oil
Garlic
Herbs of choice
Clean Glass jar (I reuse a lot of ones I get from the store)
Chopstick or skewer

The way to stuff the jars is easy but has a couple of steps.

1. Get the oil and herbs, spices or garlic you want ready. So you can sprinkle them in at a moments notice.
2. Pour oil in the jar 1/3 the way up.
3. Now add some of the dried toms, press down very well, (to get out all the air bubbles) until the oil comes up around the toms.
4. Now give it some flavor! I use garlic and rosemary.
5. Then add in more toms and more oil.
6. Repeat numbers 3-5 until the jar is full and you have a nice layer of tomatoes on the top.
7. With the chopstick, poke down into the jar. You’re looking for any air bubbles that won’t release. Crush their hopes with the chopstick.

This sounds more intense then it actually is. The oil is just another layer of preservation, which is always good if you are going to give  them away was gifts. I never know where they will be stored, so I take the extra measure just to be safe.

It the dried tomatoes get moisture into them, they could mold, and the oil protects them from the air. Conveniently, it also adds a ton of flavor! I can vary it depending on the person. Garlic, no garlic or red pepper, no red pepper, whatever the person likes in herbs. I tend not to stress to much about that, it’s a free gift that I or you devoted presious time and effort into. That is what counts!

How to package
Place in a basket with some paper at the bottom to take up some space then add a onion a bulb of garlic and hard cheese and pasta. Wow your friends with this “elaborate” dinner in minutes, and the cost is under 10 bucks! Worth it.

SO MUCH MORE!!! Because you made it.

Bloody Mary cherry bombs
Because nothing says Happy Hoildays or Merry Christmas like booze! Even better a booze with vitamins… ‘cuz health!

It’s some cheer everyone (of age) can share in.

What you will need
Homegrown or csa tomatoes in all the colors, a tad under ripe. (I threw in some tomatillos also just for fun and color.)

2 cups vodka
2 Worcestershire sauce
3-5 splashes of Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Pyrex measuring cup and spoon plus jars

Yields: one quart jar and one 13 oz jar

Wash your tomatoes and get as many as you can in to a jar! This will be harder because they are whole tomatoes, and you don’t want to squish them. With some determination and a far bit of stubborn we can do anything!

Next add in the mixture of booze and spices, making sure it covers all of the tasty tomatoes, and let it sit until Saint Nick comes a calling.

How to package.
Add a tag saying you are the bomb… Or something along those punny lines. Dress up with a ribbon and a gift was given.

Hope you enjoined my ideas for my friends and family this year! There is a bonus idea down below. I hope this helps you find your victory for the day!