Capturing the Kitchen (vol. 2)

Every week I notice how life's rhythm and the changes of season transform my kitchen. At the end of summer, tomatoes and melons are scattered over my countertops. In the dead of winter, stew keeps our family warm. Homemade sourdough bread is a weekly affair, but cakes are only for very special occasions.

I love being in my kitchen, and I enjoy seeing what other families are creating in their own kitchens too. So what's going on in your kitchen this week? Capture a picture of your kitchen or something in your kitchen and post it on your blog along with some words, a recipe, a menu or even a tip. Share your post by linking up below! 

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It's been another busy week in the kitchen preserving tomatoes. We put up stewed tomatoes and tomato sauce, I'd love to have enough to last us the winter. My husband requested lots of salsa so we made a couple batched of Charred Tomato and Chile Salsa from Canning for a New Generation along with a batch of Heirloom Tomato Salsa from Put 'em Up!.

Chilies

I also managed, over the span of three days, to make tomato ketchup. I've shied away from making ketchup after disappointing ketchup experience a few year ago. However, I'm happy to say that our homemade ketchup is delicious. Thanks to the folks over at Well Preserved for their Homemade Tomato Ketchup recipe. The only thing I changed was I substituted 2 2/3 cups honey for the 4 cups of brown sugar that was recommended.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Yesterday, I put up the last of my tomatoes and I gave a huge sigh of relief. I'd still like to make some BBQ sauce but I'd need to get more tomatoes and more jars. I'm not sure it'll happen. Now I need to focus on pears. We are a pear loving family and I plan to can at least 50 quarts of pears. This morning I put up 7 quarts, only 43 quarts to go. Wish me luck!

Homemade Tomato Ketchup