It's Time For A Story !

I had a request for my salsa recipe this morning in my emails. Seems that the link on the canning page went to the wrong page. My apologies for the mix up and it has been changed to go to the proper page.This is a reprint of a 2010 post...and I am envious of all of you that already have tomatoes! 

O Wise One and I are making salsa today! We started recalling salsa making sessions of the past and remembered this occasion and both smiled all afternoon about it. One year we were making salsa and it was after Fred had moved out to go to college. She came home to help with the salsa making with a new boyfriend in tow. Let's see we shall call him Julio. Now Julio was at that age. You know, about 20 or so. Young and cocky and with a new girlfriend and trying awfully hard to impress not only this new girl but her parents as well.

So everyone is working in the kitchen and Julio and Fred's job is to chop the jalapenos. So Fred gets out rubber gloves for herself and Julio. Julio declines his gloves. Both Fred and I urge him to wear them but he declines. Now O Wise one handles peppers gloveless but he has hand of leather. Not even a self respecting splinter could make it through those hands but really. Julio is from the city and has hands that are baby soft and well manicured. The testosterone is flowing. What are Fred and I to do? So finally after trying several times to urge Julio to wear gloves we admit defeat and settle to our jobs. O Wise One and I peel and chop the tomatoes and onions and Julio and Fred sit at the table and chop the jalapenos. The task completed it all goes in the pot and clean up is completed.

 Alas Julio goes in to wash his hands and go to the bathroom. Have you ever seen a grown man dance and cry at the same time. Not getting all the jalapeno juice off his hands and handling his privates Julio comes out of the bathroom dancing literally. It is everything I can do not to hit the floor laughing. O Wise One looks awfully smug. Indeed!  Needless to say Julio did not last long in the Holler. Another boyfriend bites the dust.

The morale to this story: WEAR GLOVES HANDLING HOT PEPPERS !


                                              SALSA

5 pounds ripe tomatoes
3 cups chopped onions
2 to 2 1/4 cups chopped peppers (To Taste- I mix Banana and Jalapeno)
1 cup vinegar
2 Tblsp minced garlic
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon Cilantro
2 -3 cans tomato paste (depending on desired thickness)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice


Parboil tomatoes to remove skins.

In a large pot combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or to desired thickness.

Fill 5-6 clean, hot sterilized pint jars leaving 1/2 inch head space. Remove air bubbles. Wipe jar tops and threads and cover with hot lids and rings. Process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes pints and 25 minutes quarts. Cool

Hints:

Wear gloves always when handling Hot Peppers!!!!!!!

Blessings from The Holler

The Canned Quilter