Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Harvest Time

Harvest days have arrived at the homestead. When I am not caring for the animals or sneaking out to spend a little fun time with Tinker or Tinkerbell as I call her or helping William on yard or paint jobs I am in the kitchen. The gardens have given us a lot even with all the heat and not much rain. So much okra I pickled some of it. So many bell and banana peppers I made pepper jelly, pepper relish and roasted peppers. The cucumbers keep multiplying like rabbits so I have made dill pickles, bread and butter pickles, and sweet relish. The cherry tomato vines are loaded so I have been making sun dried tomatoes. I also found a absolutely yummy tomato salad recipe using cherry tomatoes. I can't stop eating it. If you are overloaded with tomatoes give it a try! Heck if you need cherry tomatoes stop by. Will be happy to give you some!

Cherry Tomato Salad
4 cups cherry tomatoes cut in half
1/4 cup veg. oil
3 tablespoons of cider vinegar
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp sugar
Mix all ingredients except the tomatoes together. Pour this over tomatoes, stir till they are all covered. Chill for 2 hours. Stir before serving.
Let me know when you make it and I will be over to help eat it.
Along with all the above veggies the green beans are coming in like crazy and a neighbor gave me 3 gallon of fresh figs. Tonight will find me making fig jam, a fig cake and canning more green beans. I am so looking forward to winter. Enjoy the nice COLD weather, a warm fire and all the harvest put up during this awful heatwave. Even with the heat and humidity life is blessed here on Hidden Haven. Hope yours is too!

9 comments:

Cadi said...

How wonderful to have an abundant harvest. I'd take you up on that tomato offer, but it's a far drive. ;-)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Oh Peggy, You have been a busy lady.... I'm amazed at how much you can get done. You must have TONS of energy--but I'll bet you sleep good at nights!!!!!

I'd love all of your fresh veggies.... We have to buy ours. We did finally get some great TN tomatoes. See my blog tomorrow.

Your tomato salad sounds yummy.... Thanks!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

amelia said...

I was going to say how blessed you are having all this fresh produce and you are but you've worked really hard for it too and I don't know how you keep doing it in the heat.
We have AC and I'm still without energy and feel like a wet rag. As Betsy said, you must sleep very well!!

Granny said...

I get tired just reading all that you do. I love fresh green beans and tomatoes. I'm going to try your tomato recipe. Thanks for sharing.

DayPhoto said...

Gosh!!!! Fresh figs! That is something we would never, ever, get here.

Thanks for the recipe!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Marci said...

Everything sounds good. You are ahead of us, so it makes me anxious for our harvest. :)

We did get a new pup. :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Peggy, You are making me hungry. I know it's a lot of hard work though. I just came from a blog with 2 GOOD books about women homesteaders that you would LOVE.
It's http://nancysfamilyhistoryblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/could-i-have-done-it-how-about-you.html

Lib said...

You are one Busy Lady and I know your Thankful for The Harvest!
Have a great day!
Blessins',Lib

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

Things seem to be going well at your place. I wish I had more to harvest.
Your salad sound lovely.

We have suffered from the heat this year. Not nearly as high as you. My brother and his wife, hiking the Appalachian Trail have suffered some really hot days. They are in Connecticut now on their way to Maine.