In recent years I have become more familiar with where my food comes from, what I put in my body, how to grow my own food and now I'm going to tackle the processed food in my home. I'm going to attempt (with my husband's help) clearing out a lot of the processed food in my home. With the love I'm going to put into my garden, I hope it returns it with plenty of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and berries. All of these fruits will help me in my personal challenge.
I have never canned anything in my life and I must admit it's a bit scary. I'm afraid of mold and something not being sanitary enough. However, if I want to make my own sauces, salsas and jam I must get over my fear. The initial plan will be: to make enough pasta sauce to get me through a year...I'm guessing 26 jars, make 3 different kinds of salsa (traditional, black bean/corn, roasted tomato), make freezer jam, pickle my hot peppers (jalapeno, banana and habenero). I thought this would be a "Mission Accomplished!" moment when all of my tomato and pepper seeds did so well under grow lights in our basement. We were shocked how well everything did, that I was even able to give plenty of plants to friends, family and a community garden. Yet, after transplanting I lost nearly all the peppers and three of the nine tomato plants. I still have more set aside that I can plant but I was bummed...oh well more are on the way from Seed Savers!
Although these canned goods won't solve my processed food problem, it will prevent me from buying canned tomatoes with BPA lining. The other food that I will try to take on this summer: homemade bread (freezing baked loaves and keeping artisan bread dough in my fridge to bake when needed), tortillas (they must be easy since a local Mexican restaurant has a woman making them in the window), granola (YUM!), pancakes to freeze (I've read you can freeze the batter too) and tortilla chips (if the tortillas pan out). There is still some research to do on all of these and other things I would like to make.
Since my family is vegan there really isn't a whole lot of processed food. A typical grocery list consists of vegetables, fruit, beans, bread, pasta, salsa, chips, almond milk and juice. However, I still feel the need to venture out this summer. I'm unemployed and my husband has the summers off, so it looks like we will have time on our hands. Hopefully I can interest some friends in joining a canning party or preserve swap...mmmm!
