I am trying out this whole “Circle of Life” thing and applying it to the household budget, garden produce and grocery shopping thing. I figure I need to make the property pay its way as much as possible, then put those dollars back into things I can’t make or grow myself.
Today was one of those ‘mostly kitchen’ days where I am trying to convert raw food into saleable food, and most of that entails an awful lot of chopping!
First things first, since the day was sunny and breezy I had to do at least some housework related jobs, so two loads of laundry got put out on the line, but I successfully avoided the folding of all the previously washed stuff (that’s why we have a spare room right??)(Altho that pile is getting a bit of a worry as Jeff was complaining about lack of clean undies)(and no – there wasn’t a lack – they were just hiding under some t-shirts)(because you all needed to know that)
Anyway – so, ever hopeful I go and set up my “For Sale” tables out the front in the hope that people may stop and take some tomatoes off my hands and give me some money in exchange.
That done, it was time to get the tomato relish bubbling away and chop into more tomatoes. I had been up silly late last night chopping tomatoes and onions so they could ‘sit’ overnight ready for me to do something with today.
Even with that 6 pounds in the pot and a box of them out the front I was still left with this to sort –
So chop chop chop, another 6 pounds done and put in the pot with the right ingredients to get some tomato sauce under way.
(See bottom of post for Tomato Relish Recipe)
We eat our dried apples fairly smartly… so its back to apples!
There is a local market held on the foreshore twice a month. I try to get there to sell off my excess produce, sauces, relishes and jams. People seem to like the fact I have grown and made it all myself – organically – so I do reasonably well.
I get to meet lots of people, its lovely and social and the view of the ocean can be pretty good too!
I put aside the money from these ventures and it goes back into buying our meat (which we source in bulk locally) and other things like milk, butter, flour, chocolate etc. My aim is to have more money coming in from produce than leaves in supermarket costs. So far this year I failed in January, but succeeded in February! Yay !!
On tomorrows list? Chillies, tomato sauce, corn – stalk mulching (if its not raining) and apples… will be dreaming of apples…
PS In case you were wondering, my roadside stall brought in the princely sum of $3.50 today!! Hilarious! Best not give up my day job huh?? Hang on – this IS my day job!! 🙂
RECIPE – TOMATO RELISH
Credit to my Nanna!
INGREDIENTS:
6lb ripe tomatoes chopped
2lb onions diced
2lb sugar
3 tablespoons mustard powder
2 tablespoons curry powder
vinegar (I use white to keep gluten free, but malt and cider also work fine)
salt
Cornflour
METHOD:
Mix chopped tomato and onion in a large pot, sprinkle with a handful of salt and leave overnight. Next day pour off excess liquid, then pour vinegar into the mix until covered. Add sugar, mix in and bring to boil. Reduce heat and let simmer uncovered for 2-3 hours. Prepare about 10-12 jars – clean and sterilise in oven (I do mine at 100 deg celcius) and wash lids. Mix mustard and curry powder with a couple of heaps dessert spoons of cornflour into a separate bowl. Add water and make into smooth paste. Pour into tomato mixture and reheat to thicken. I usually let that cook for 5 – 10 minutes more.
Pour relish into hot jars and seal.
Fabulous on most meats – hot or cold. Gorgeous on ham and cheese sandwiches and it makes a delightful pizza base sauce! Enjoy!
