Green Tomatoes

We had our first hard freeze last week. I considered myself blessed that it happened so late in the season. Most of the valley we live in is a zone 4 growing season. Our particular part of the valley is zone 3. So, when other parts of the valley frosted weeks before us this fall, I was pleasantly surprised. But, since all good things must come to an end, we knew it was only a matter of time before the hoop house froze, too. So, The Wood Artist picked all remaining tomatoes - ripe and green. The green ones, I put on shelves in the cool garage and covered them with newspaper. With a little luck, we should have tomatoes until Christmas. Does anyone know if you can store tomatillos this way, also?

Salsa!

Sunday night we were visiting friends, working on a business project when supper time rolled around. I had made a soup out of our potatoes, leeks, and chard that was yummy, but I had also brought a number of garden vegies along. Since my friend was on the phone and the guys were busy on the computer, I just started making myself at home in the kitchen. (Gotta love friends like that!) I've never played around much with salsa, so I decided to give it a try. I got out their food processor and tossed in tomatillos, red onion, red pepper, small green pepper. After processing that I added the juice of a lemon, some salt and cayenne pepper. We sat around eating and talking about how much this stuff could sell for! Hmmm! One really could make a business out of something that fresh and good. At any rate, it was just fun to eat a whole meal out of the garden.
Speaking of which. I've not been posting much because we have been racing the cold to bring in the harvest. Will share more on that in the near future!

My Own Declaration of Independence

Someone once said that growing a vegetable garden is like a declaration of independence. How true! I love that feeling of self-sufficiency one gets while bringing in a harvest. The last few days have been filled with that for our family. I learned how to braid onions and hang them to dry in our garage. I've harvested hot peppers to dry. We already have two bins of dried tomatoes for soups this winter with more in the dehydrator. The Wood Artist harvested heads and heads of rock-hard cabbage for the root cellar. I must try making sauerkraut this year. There is much more to be done to bring in the harvest, but I am already getting that feeling of coziness that accompanies being ready for the deep winter snows that come to my part of the world.
I will be away for a few days as we are taking a long overdue, short vacation. We are going to a National Park that I've always wanted to see..... Stay tuned. Nanette