A bit of a red letter day as well but that is for my craft blog,
red day is Tomato Ketchup making day
All the ingredients laid out read to use, 11lb of tomatoes washed and chopped, 2 onions chopped, 5 cloves of garlic minced, 1 pint of cider vinegar, 4tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1tsp cayenne pepper, 8oz sugar,
My granddaughter was there to learn and got stuck into helping with the preparations
there is always something new for helpers to learn, she put together a bouquet garni of bay leaves cloves and pepper corns
all tied up ready to go into the pan
All the ingredients together in the pan needed stirring
brought to the boil and simmered for 30 mins
I am using the Kilner twist top bottles for the ketchup
once it had simmered it was time to put it through the Moulin or pressed through a sieve to get rid of the skins and pips
back into the saucepan brought back to the boil and simmered to reduce down and thicken, I reduced it down to 5 pints it took about 30 mins, the bottle lids were popped into a jug of boiling water and the bottles into the bottom of the oven to sterilise
Stand the hot bottles on a tea towel and fill with the sauce, pop on the lids, the sauce thickens as it cools, they were then popped into a hot water bath for 20 mins sorry didn't get a photo of that bit as the battery went on the camera.
Being processed means they will keep for 2 years unopened, if you don't process 6 months in the fridge, if you are not going to process reduce the quantity you are making unless you use a lot of ketchup. My granddaughter enjoyed making the ketchup and 11 bottles for about £2 is very cost effective, she is taking a bottle home.
They had the apple fruit leathers after lunch and really enjoyed them that much granddaughter now wants a dehydrator for Christmas to make her own, she has just turned 16 and is learning valuable lessons, she shops for her own food and prepares her own meals at home with the support of her parents in a couple of weeks she is off to collage in London. Its great knowing she can look after herself and is growing up with skills that will set her in good stead for the future.
Grandson has been doing his bit as well will post on that tomorrow :-)
Wonderful - passing on a skill to the younger generation :)
ReplyDeleteThats what it is all about no pint keeping it to yourself :-)
DeleteWonderful to read that your granddaughter has learned a new skill whilst she's with you. I've never made tomato ketchup, mainly as none of us eat it, but I used to make an excellent brown sauce (like Daddy's).
ReplyDeleteYou will have to share that recipe with us I do like brown sauce :-)
DeleteMy grand-daughter is 4 and starts school next week. I can't wait until she wants to cook with me. My daughters say they don't have the time to faff around!!! Nonsense i say!!.
ReplyDeleteYes nonsense they have to learn and there is no better way :-)
DeleteFascinating to read about your doings Dawn - have popped over from another blog to see you. I shall now put you on my side bar so that I can see what you are doing each day.
ReplyDeleteWelcome nice to have you join the party :-)
DeleteHow fantastic , isn,t it lovely how you are teaching your grand kids and making fab memories in the process. Hope she enjoys college and will obviously not be living on "rubbish" !!! Maria xx
ReplyDeleteShe is very apt at cooking and think there will be some rubbish its part of being a student :-)
DeleteI love the thought of making my own tomato ketchup, when I have tasted home made, it is deliciously different than the shop bought stuff. Next year perhaps :)
ReplyDeleteYes very different it really tastes of tomatoes :-)
DeleteOnce again, thank you so much for great advice hints and tips. I surely will keep referring to your blog for help as I sometimes struggle with how long I should keep things when I have made chutney etc. So want to have a pantry full of yummines but also to know exactly how long I can keep it. Do you have a suggestion for a preseving book? I have one by Marguerite Patten.
ReplyDeleteThe River Cottage book is good also the Ball book on Preserves :-)
DeleteWhat a great way to spend time with your granddaughter! I hope that she enjoys her time away at college and enjoys her ketchup to remind her of the weekend with you! xx
ReplyDeleteI am sure she will have a fab time she is really looking forward to it :-)
DeleteWonderful receive, we don't eat tomato ketchup, so I make tomato sauce for pasta and freeze it live reading your blog thank you
ReplyDeleteI only like it to dip chips in hubby likes it on his bacon and egg butties :-)
DeleteThat looks fabulous and it's great that your grandaughter has learned a new skill. I didn't expect much of a tomato harvest this year considering the lack of sunshine we've had but it's one of my best tomato years so far.
ReplyDeleteI hope to pass on lots of skills to all the grandchildren never know when they will come in useful :-)
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