is that a tomato i see?

i have to admit, it's been a couple of days since i've been outside. i mean, REALLY outside. so if i'm looking for a reason why i've been in a funk here lately, i might want to start there. but between the busyness, and the cold and windy crap we've been experiencing, and the sort of sadness from seeing all the plants getting ready to go away, i've just been more into "indoor activities."

i have been eating a few tomatoes, but for the most part i was thinking they were pretty much done. my second year of tomato growing was not all that successful, mostly because of my inexperience combined with 6 weeks of NO RAIN. so, i was happy to just have a few batches of salsa, and to wait til next year.

today i went outside for a bit of a break from work in the late afternoon. it was beautiful out! i thought i spotted a bit of red, then another, so i went inside the house to get a bowl. i kept picking, and before you know it, i had to go inside to get a BIGGER bowl.

yum-o. looks like i will have one more batch of tomato something to make this year. my plants are not quitters, and for that i am thankful! this time, think i'll go for homemade spaghetti sauce, which goes something like this:

wash tomatoes, cut off any bad spots and cut into quarters, or just big chunks. lay into roasting pan, or 9x13 cake pan if you only have a few. drizzle with olive oil and some salt, and throw in a few cloves of garlic and a few fresh basil leaves, chopped.

roast in a 350 degree oven til soft.

when the tomatoes soften up, remove from oven and run through a food mill (see pic) to remove the skins and seeds.

then, add some salt and other spices you like, put back on the stove and let simmer until the sauce thickens up.

you can probably CAN this, but i froze a couple pints for the middle of winter tomato fix i will need :)