Hot and Chunky Summer Salsa

Since it's tomato time, I thought I'd share my yummy salsa recipe with you. I used to think salsa was a lot of work and even though it can be time consuming, it's very worth it! In the dead of winter when a craving for garden fresh comes, crack open a jar of your homemade salsa, serve with chips and sour cream and it will bring back that warm summer feeling!

Hot and Chunky Summer Salsa

8 c.peeled, chopped roma tomatoes
3 finely chopped hot banana pepper
4-6 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1 c. chopped green pepper
2 c. chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 c. vinegar
2 T. dried basil or use more fresh
2 T. salt
1 t. pepper
3 T. sugar (optional)
1 t. dried cilantro leaves or use more fresh

Other:
1 can black beans
1 can corn or 2 c. frozen
1 can tomato paste

Mix together in large pot and cook approx 1/2 hour or until vegetables soften. Add 1 jar tomato paste to thicken.  I also add a can of black beans and 1 can corn before sealing in hot jars. Heat lids in boiling water while adding hot salsa to hot jars. Place lids on jars and place in a spot where jars won't be disturbed for a day or two. Make sure sealed before putting away.

Makes approx 5 pints. I usually make a double batch.

A truckload of sunshine

We regularly supply Masse's Vegetable Stand at St. Joseph's with cut sunflowers and pick-up bouquets. These were heading there this morning along with fresh beets, carrots and cucumbers we grow.

Is Autumn around the corner?

It seems summer has come and gone and left us with this Autumn-like weather. Cool nights and warm days- notice I said warm, not hot? Some enjoy the cool but others are missing the heat. Included in those who miss the heat are our hardy garden mums that are normally ready by now. The cooler temperatures have slowed down the growing and flowering but happily, we do have smaller ones ready! Plant into planters or antique tea kettles as a quick, colourful addition that will make your creative juices tingle! Ready-to-go
planters filled with perennials and annuals that look fresh and new are available as well! Another option for fall decorating is to buy some colourful perennials, place them in any old clay pots you may have in the garden shed, place them here and there and when the blooms are past, dig them into the flower garden where they will be resurrected next spring!

Smaller mums budding a luscious, orange colour

Larger Mums are growing but still pretty green. Some should be ready beginning in September

Ornamental Kale and Cabbage growing in the field

All the makings for our Autumn Planters

Colourful Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)  Great late summer and Fall colour!

Black-Berry Lily- A unique and beautiful Perennial

Fall Planter

Mum season is upon us!

Our hardy garden mums are starting to colour! We've been busy shipping the small ones for a few weeks now and more are coming into bloom. The bigger ones have a few weeks to go yet and unfortunately, the cooler weather isn't helping them along any faster.
Some go to local stores and garden centres, others are shipped to Ontario Flower Growers flower auction in Mississauga twice a week.

The True Gardener

A true gardener is never done. That's the truth. Something in them cannot turn down a new, unique plant or digging and dividing a neighbour's abundantly large perennial when asked. An empty spot can always be found, or a corner that just needs "a little something" which usually ends up being a plant. The true gardener can be found out in the gardens at any time of day snipping, rearranging, weeding, digging or singing to the flowers. Their thumb is camouflaged as the colour of their natural skin but underneath it really is green. Some prefer fancy garden gloves, others like it "oh natural" and don't mind the dirt under their fingernails. 

In honour of the True Gardener, our large selection of perennials will be on sale starting August 1. With all this moisture in the ground, it's an ideal time to find those "little" spots or create a new perennial paradise. 

For the next few weeks we are offering this savings: 
Buy 2 pots and get the 3rd one free!

Herb Cubes

Freezing fresh herbs is easy! All you need is a knife, ice cube trays and freezer bags. Here's how:

*Choose your herb, wash, drain and chop finely.

*Place about half full in ice cube trays.

*Cover with fresh water and place in the freezer until frozen.

*Pop cubes out and place in LABELED freezer bags. The reason I stress labeling bags is because I haven't always done this and not all herbs have a scent when frozen. Either that or my nose doesn't work anymore :)

*This winter when you are craving Fresh, grab some "herb cubes" from the freezer and place in a stir fry, pot of soup or stew, or even spaghetti sauce! I love adding cubes of chopped basil or oregano to my homemade canned tomato sauce when I'm cooking up spaghetti for supper. So yummy and makes it feel like summer again!