Image by mjhoy via Flickr

This summer, I planted and tended to my own garden. I don’t know if it was beginner’s luck, but it flourished. I really think it had something to do with how much I enjoyed it. I loved spending afternoons out there weeding and watering. It was extremely relaxing. Then, when everything began growing, I couldn’t believe the amount of vegetables I brought in every weekend…all summer long. It was fantastic. We had lettuce, eggplant, red peppers, and more tomatoes than you could imagine.

We could never eat or give away enough to keep up with the amount of vegetables we had. So, I quickly learned how to can. I canned salsa, pizza sauce, ketchup, pasta sauce, and pickles. I learned how to blanch vegetables for freezing. I froze corn, green beans, brussel sprouts, and apples. It gives me such pleasure to go to the pantry or freezer and bring to the kitchen something homemade to add to our meal. It’s also nice to have canned items to give as gifts.

It’s really changed how I think about what I buy at the store. I walk past everything tomato because I already have tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes, salsa, pasta sauce, and spaghetti sauce. It’s nice not to have to put anything tomato in my cart. I buy whole chicken, which is cheaper anyway. This way, I can use the bones to make a stock and freeze it in little containers to add to sauces or in making rice. I don’t buy too much in the vegetable section either. Of course, I like to have some fresh herbs and vegetables to mix in with what I froze. But, what about peanut butter and jelly? What about mustard and mayonaise? There are so many things I could make myself. I discovered a website which is a good place to start. Here, you can find out how to make these things and more: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/surprising-diy-homemade-foods.html. The great thing about all of this is that it is so easy to do. And once your pantry is filled with these items, you are set for the year because you do it in bulk. You don’t just make one jar of jam, you make 10. So, try some of this for yourself. You will feel at ease knowing how the food you give to your family is prepared. Enjoy.