Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Several of you have asked for this recipe, so here it is!  I picked a lot of my tomatoes today. 

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

This recipe can be pressure canned or frozen. Cream is added when the soup is reheated.
Makes about 6 pints
15-20 tomatoes
2 carrots, chop roughly
1 large onion, quartered
2 whole heads garlic, peeled, not crushed
olive oil
1 t. salt3 cups fresh, homemade, chicken broth, skimmed of fat
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil — (or 1 Tbsp. dried)
Preheat oven to 425°
Core tomatoes and cut in half. Place, cut side up, on parchment covered cookie sheet. Add carrots, onion and garlic. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle salt.
Roast at 425°F for about an hour, or until veggies are roasted and a little blackened.
Blend with a stick blender (or in small batches in a blender) until smooth. Throw the basil in and blend some more.
Place in a large saucepan with the chicken broth and simmer for 10 minutes.
To can: Process in a pressure canner, pints for 20 min. and quarts for 30 min. at 10# of pressure (dial gauge.)
To serve: Warm soup in a saucepan. Add cream to taste. Serve garnished with a grilled cheese sandwich!

Veggies ready for the oven

All nice and roasted

Soup! (I did not add any cream, it is SO yummy this way)

I like to can it in 1/2 pts or pts, so we just grab it and put it in our lunch bag. 

I was kind of hungry thinking about the soup, so I grabbed a potato out of the garden and used my new mandolin and had nice fresh fries in 10 minutes! While waiting the hour for the vegetables to roast. You need a good plate of fries every once in a while. 

Caprese Salad

OK, maybe I have been watching entirely TOO much of the Food network. BUT we are trying some pretty tasty food. I am currently in love with the Heirloom tomato pack from the Green Barn.
 It is the next best thing to fresh tomatoes from the garden.  


Caprese Salad
Ingredients:
As many tomatoes as you want. In summer I slice the large ones, now I am cutting these yummy cherry tomatoes in half.
Glaze with Balsamic vinegar of Modena (you can make your own balsamic vinegar reduction, but I LOVE this stuff. My sister in law found it for me several years ago. )


Real Mozzarella cheese
Fresh Basil leaves
Olive oil for drizzling
sea salt and pepper


Slice tomatoes in half, top each half with a cube or the cheese, add a small piece of the fresh basil, add top tomato. I put a toothpick through the cherry tomatoes. You don't need a "top" with regular tomatoes. 
Drizzle olive oil and the Balsamic glaze over the tops. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper.  Serve with a crusty bread, or with beef for dinner. We eat them with everything! 

Again, I remind you I am NOT a photographer, I am a cook! 

Ways to Save Money

I know we all walk around and turn off lights and shut the doors. Most of the "money saving tips" I read, I have done for years. With 5 kids and all that goes with that, we had to. NOW we are kind of feeling like retiring in a few (many) years might be a reality. At least from a job where people expect you show up! With getting older, you finally realize you need to take care of yourself and eat well. I found this list on a place I was looking to find heirloom seeds. If I am gardening, I want to grow good food and not Genetically Modified food. So I found this site. I wish I could take credit for all the ideas, but they are found here.

We are not fanatics about the food we eat or anything, but are just trying to do better. I know you can NOT separate a Rinehart from his ice cream!! 

Some places we have been using...

The Green Barn

Farmer Bens

Twin Brook Creamery

Second Chance Thrift Store (the ultimate recycling!)

The Lyncs Recycle Center

Food Inc

Yes, Amazing, I know! It was the only produce picture I had this year. The FIRST tomatoes after a rainy, rainy, rainy, summer. I was happy to have any! 

I finally did get with it, after a long spring and summer with a lot of time spent on the road...

BUT by fall, THIS little guy came home! He loves his Twinbrook Creamery egg nog!

From Backyardheirloomseeds.net

Saving Money Tips- STRETCH your dollars!!

USE THE SUBSTITUTE CLEANING RECIPES BELOW AND SAVE BUCKETS OF CASH A YEAR~~ REALLY!! Save $30-$40 a mo. on cleaners!

Make your own laundry soap! Works and smells GREAT andonly .01 cent a load. I used this site and added a bit of dry calgon for scent. I have 5 little ones and like the clean looking and smelling clothes this soap gives our family (many times daily).

I USE THIS ONE DAILY AND IT SAVE US BIG BUCKS! 

Use VINEGER rather than costly cleaning products!   Works just as good if not better.     (google: 101 ways to use vineger)

Use your crock pot 2 times a week.

Garden!! go figure....

Have a family game nite rather than going out.

(a 2 fold blessing)

Make your OWN coffee at home. Keep supplies on hand at home and resist, resist, resist the urge to stop at a stand!

Refill your water bottle and brown bag your daily lunch.

Slow down on junk food purchases! Pop, cookies.....maybe only "do junk" on family game nite.

NO NO NO to credit cards! pay it off- but you already know this.

Draw names and MAKE Christmas gifts this year!! Make it fun!

Top picks from about.com  are...cookies in a jar...bath salts...daddys caddy... stepping stones... Nana's angels tshirt...coco jars.. printable calendars...printable coupons...candy jar...hollow book....tea cup / jar candles...memory jar...slime,dough,paint....coffee can stilts.

Buy the items you use alot in bulk.

Make a shopping list and stick to it!

Don's spend big money entertaining your children.

Children want most is your time, not your stuff- play/read with them.

Use craigslist and re-use sites for items you need.

Lower that thermostat a few degrees and wear socks!

Shop with coupons and store flyers.

When shopping for standard items (clothes, sports equipment, older games, etc.), start by shopping used.

Swap babysitting with neighbors and friends.

Learn how to cut hair. With my large family we save 1,000 a yr....wow!

Maintain your own car.

Use the library for books and movie rentals- redbox is good too.

Downsize.

Go hiking and camping for this years vacation.

Cancel your phone and use your cell phone. (majic jack works)

**Remember- you can do it! Use a determined % of the money saved each month and get out of debt.**

From there you can save- save- save!!

Good luck!! I bet you can save at least  $1,000 dollars easily.