One of the best parts about gardening is eating the fruits of your labor. Currently though I have more tomatoes, egg plants and green beans than I know what to do with. So with this blog I am asking readers to help me. What do you do with your extras? Do you freeze it all? Make salsas and sauces? Tell me what your plans are?
I plan to try my hand at making homemade tomato sauce tonight. I pulled a recipe out of Better Homes and Gardens at the beginning of the summer that I hope will be good. If it is I will share it on here. Do you have a favorite tomato sauce recipe?
I’m especially lost when it comes to the egg plant. Can you freeze eggplant?
Please give some feedback. I will try to share recipes and tips in my next blog.
Sounds like you can, but it’s going to be mushier than fresh eggplant: http://www.pickyourown.org/freezingeggplant.htm
I make salsa, spaghetti sauce … I just use google to find good recipes. I planted a TON of peppers and tomatoes this year with the idea of canning and / or freezing stuff for winter.
As for green beans – if you blanch them first, I think they should be easy to freeze.
And make sure you use Ziplock bags … I’ve tried using the store brands and they just don’t work as well.
GOOD LUCK!
I’ve only worked with green beans. Bring water to a rolling boil – boil green beans for 3 to 3-1/2 minutes and then use a spatula to take them out of the boiling pot and put them into an ice water bath (I use the kitchen sink) for 3 to 3-1/2 minutes. Pat them dry and then put into Ziplog bags to freeze. I agee with using store brands!
You should be able to freeze eggplant and use it for Baba Ganoush. I have put whole unpeeled tomatoes in the freezer and used them throughout the winter. The skins slip off easily as they are thawing or if you are in a rush you can run some hot water over the frozen tomato and slide the peel off.
I froze a few green beans but most went to make dilly beans this year. They are easy to can and expensive in the grocery store – so always a welcome gift! Last year we made tomato sauce, salsa, and canned as well. Tomato sauce takes a while to make as you need to reduce it… But it was so nice to have in the pantry for homemade spaghetti sauce. You’ll be happy you made it.
No idea on the eggplant….