Monthly Archives: August 2012

Peach Dumpling Pie

Posted on August 31, 2012 by diary of a tomato

As we go into the holiday weekend, Peach Dumpling Pie is a fine way of celebrating this last bit of summer. Based on the Apple Dumpling Pie I usually make all fall and winter, these just-ripe peaches are laid out … Continue reading →

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Mastering Food Preservation: Freezing Fruit

Posted on August 29, 2012 by diary of a tomato

The fifth session of the Master Food Preserver Program was timed to coincide with raspberry season. Unfortunately, an infestation of Spotted Wing Drosophila decimated the local farmers’ crop. Fruit growers are keeping a watch on this new pest as it spreads throughout the region, the … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, preserving | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

8.27.12 Pomodorini appesi / hanging tomatoes

Posted on August 27, 2012 by diary of a tomato

The Italian hanging tomato plants are loaded with fruit, but still need to ripen before we can harvest and store them for winter. It’s again the time of tropical storms and Late Blight, and we’re now in a race against time. The season’s … Continue reading →

Posted in garden, tomatoes / pomodorini | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Mastering Food Preservation: Pickles & Relish

Posted on August 24, 2012 by diary of a tomato

Canning pickles helps to free up precious refrigerator space, and preserves them for longer term storage. With some of my previous attempts resulting in less than satisfactory pickles, I was looking forward to picking up some tips for crispier pickles … Continue reading →

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8.22.12 Garlic mites

Posted on August 22, 2012 by diary of a tomato

After several weeks, the remainder of the garlic harvest was ready to be trimmed for storage. On closer inspection, we were disappointed to find some damage from garlic mites, also known as dry bulb mites, on individual cloves. This is a … Continue reading →

Posted in garden | 8 Comments

8.20.12 Summer in a jar

Posted on August 20, 2012 by diary of a tomato

These jars are like a timeline of summer’s harvests. Ever since reading about Daphne’s refrigerator pickles, our refrigerator has been slowly filling up with them, added to as the season progresses. Left to right: baby carrots, Cincinnati Market radishes, and … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, garden, preserving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Mastering Food Preservation: Freezing & Canning Low-Acid Vegetables

Posted on August 17, 2012 by diary of a tomato

As a general rule, it’s the acidity of an ingredient that determines the method of canning that should be used. Low acid foods (ph greater than 4.6), such as vegetables and meat, require processing in a pressure canner in order … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking, preserving | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments