This looks like a day for … SALSA!

Look at this pile of produce! I thought I would can a bunch of tomatoes, but you're not supposed to can fruit that has cracks and blemishes. I have very few "perfect" tomatoes. So, I looked at what was available … tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, roasted chile colorado … and decided to cook up a batch of Fiesta Salsa.

All ingredients chopped and ready for the pot

Red AND Yellow tomatoes were used

Fiesta Salsa and Spicy Tomato Juice
The yellow tomatoes contribute to a more orange color

I cooked down all the cherry tomatoes and the tomatoes that were left after preparing the salsa, strained out the skins and seeds, added salt and hot pepper seasoning, simmered for 5 minutes, and canned the resulting delicious tomato juice.

Refer back to my post dated July 30, 2010 for the Fiesta Salsa recipe.

(PS … I didn't have any fresh marjoram this year. I skipped it.)

Abundant Harvest

The garden has produced very well this year. Yields are better than ever! This time last year we were having trees cut down in order to increase sunshine on the garden. I think it's paid off. Plus, I haven't had to water much this summer. Mother Nature has blessed us with rain at just the right moment. Look at the veggies that are coming in!

Moon Flower Blooming

The vines have outgrown the 8" cedar post Rouse the Spouse put up for support. The flowers have a subtle, pleasant aroma. The blooms add an other-worldly beauty to the garden at night.

August 8-16 … Sue is NOT in the garden!

I've been backpacking! 28 miles on the Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop in the Maroon Bells / Snowmass Wilderness areas near Aspen, CO. Spectacular views and wildflowers. The good news … we had rain in the garden while we were away. The garden lives!

Dried Cherry Tomatoes & Cucumbers

We have a backpacking trip coming up. Here's salad!

Cantaloupe Agua Fresca

The savor melons are coming in all at once over a couple of weeks. How much cantaloupe can a person eat? Today, I found a way to drink it, and it is delicious!

Agua fresco means "fresh water" in Spanish, and that's what this drink is …. a refreshing water-based beverage made up of fresh fruit, citrus juice, and water. Serve well chilled. And remember, life is too short NOT to drink from stemware!

http://www.chow.com/recipes/29745-cantaloupe-agua-fresca

Processing Tomatoes & Beans

• 3 1/2 quarts of canned tomatoes in their own juice
• 3 pints spicy tomato juice
• 3 pints dilly beans