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Our Brand New ACCELERATED Fat Loss Diet!First garden, looks like I actually have a green thumb. I have no idea what to do with all the stuff now. Aside from eating it and giving to my family/neighbors, what do you do with all the extra fruits and veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, peppers, etc.? I have no idea how to can, but I do have a large deep-freezer in the basement.
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16 responses so far ↓
1 Krystal Diamond // Jul 4, 2008
sell them/ give them away…
2 Wat // Jul 4, 2008
I'm sure there are plenty of people in your community who have a hard time affording what you seem to have extras of.
3 GeohaxCIA // Jul 4, 2008
u eat them if there good, you could sell them or dump them in the garbage or feed them to your pet. you can freeze them and store for winter or something
4 Dustin // Jul 4, 2008
Use the veggies to make salsa…Then can it for future use.
If you don't want to can, then freeze the salsa in small portions…that way you can just warm up a little at a time.
You could also give the remaining amount away or even try to turn a profit on it by selling.
5 Katie W // Jul 4, 2008
You could sell them in a local farmer's market, if you have the time, or check into donating them to local food banks (they may not be able to accept them for health code reasons, but it's worth a try).
I don't think high-water-content vegetables freeze well — they go mushy — but you could make purees or large batches of stews or pastas and freeze those in smaller, more serveable chunks. Breads also should freeze reasonably, and zucchini makes a lovely bread. The peppers might freeze better, though I don't have much experience there (just don't like peppers!) I would suggest washing and slicing them for more efficient storage, and easier use.
6 Mustanger // Jul 4, 2008
If you like scratch made spaghetti sauce or other sauces made with tomatoes then cook the excess tomatoes, seal them in ziplock bags and freeze them for use in the winter. Cucumbers, Zucchini, peppers, etc. can be blanched and frozen, then you won't have to buy frozen or canned during the winter. Blanching is merely dipping them in boiling water for a minute or so.
7 *Brianna Nicole* // Jul 4, 2008
Maybe saving them to make future desserts/meals will do the job. Fruit salad, zucchini bread, homemade pizza, etc….
8 ME*UK // Jul 4, 2008
Freeze excess..or store depending on crop
Its how you get lovely homegrown produce to eat out of season.
look at these alternative ideas for storing your excess produce
http://www.lowimpact.org/acatalog/books_preserving_food.html
9 Terry // Jul 4, 2008
Extra cucumbers I see pickles. Extra tomato's do you like salsa? Green beans easy 3 min boiling water them ice water at least 3 min. bag and freeze. Same with squash you need to cube it up for boiling later. Peppers what kind? Jalapenos? Cut the top out core out the seeds stuff with cream cheese, we get the kind that have chives in it, wrap with beacon stick a tooth pick in to hold the beacon on and cook in the oven till beacon is done. I like them on the grill when I cook out there. Canning is not rocket science research and try it you'll like it.
10 La Vie Boheme // Jul 4, 2008
You do what you are doing..keep eating them and giving them away. You can freeze zucchini and peppers but they may have to be blanched first..I'm not sure. You can make tomato sauce and freeze it but that means removing skins and seeds of the tomatoes.
11 meanolmaw // Jul 4, 2008
I know for fact that the folks at the Homeless Shelters would LOVE some fresh produce!!!…. healthy, tasty, and just plain YUMMY!!!….. take a load there and watch the smiles………..
12 abacaxitoo // Jul 4, 2008
Look on the web for "how to freeze vegetables". Canning is overrated.
Tomatos … make "slow roasted" and freeze.
Most of it, just cook into sauces and freeze the sauce for winter.
If you get really over-loaded, call a local food bank or charity.
13 overthehillagain // Jul 4, 2008
You could start with giving some to a local food pantry.
As for the tomatoes, you could take the skin off and slice them into quarters and freeze for spaghetti sauce or chili. You can always shred some zucchini for zucchini bread or casseroles. Peppers can be chopped and frozen also. You could always make stuffed peppers and freeze them for a later date also. You can also slice your Roma type tomatoes and dry them for dried tomatoes, these are delicious. Hope these ideas help you. Beth
14 Mommiedearest // Jul 4, 2008
1. Sell it
2. Freeze it.
3. Can it.
or
4. Dry it
If you need further info on this let me know
15 Barb H // Jul 4, 2008
The tomatoes can be caned. or make juice . they save on grocery bill by canning.
Peppers. I cut them in slices and freeze them in zip lock bags. Then you have to make peppers and onions for brat worths.Zuchini, shred them and freeze. or bake a zuchini cake and freeze cake. when you need a cake thaw out and you have a dessert. Fruits I freeze then or can them.
16 AllenHaze // Jul 4, 2008
you should also dry some of them out so you can get seeds for next year.
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