How to Keep Summer’s Harvest All Year Long

The first signs of fall are eye catching if you walk into the kitchen of someone with a garden. Fresh fruits and vegetables are everywhere; the counters, tables, windowsills and the refrigerator are usually pretty full. Neighbors, friends and family all relish the excess you share but there’s always more than you can give away. Here are few ideas on how to keep summer’s harvest to enjoy all year long.

Not only can you freeze many of these vegetables but you can make large batches of some of your favorite foods to be frozen and ready to use whenever you like. Not only does this save you time but money as well.

Apples may be one of your favorite harvests. Homemade applesauce is a great way to use up those apples. It also freezes well giving you delicious applesauce all winter long. Apple pies and cobbler also freeze well. Apple butter may not freeze well but small jars make great gifts a Christmas time.

How about all those tomatoes, onions and peppers in your garden. So many things can be made from these wonderful vegetables. Tomato juice, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce are just a few.

Salsa is another way of using up that summer harvest. If you have hot peppers from your garden use them to make a hot Mexican salsa. For those who prefer a milder salsa use chopped bell peppers. Tomatoes, onions and garlic can all be used to make the perfect salsa.

Even fresh fruits can make great salsa. Peaches and apples make a great tasting salsa. Even berries can be transformed into a salsa that will last all winter long. If you can salsa be sure to follow the recipe to ensure there is no acid build up.

Zucchini is another vegetable we always seem to have an over abundance of. Zucchini can be frozen with very little preparation. Zucchini makes moist bread or muffins. Cakes made with zucchini are very moist and tasty.

How about using some grated zucchini in your potato pancakes. Zucchini soup can be a welcome delight on a cold winter day. Try a stuffed zucchini with ground meat, chopped peppers and onions and topped with shredded cheese. Assemble the zucchini and freeze. It’s ready to pull out, bake and have on the dinner table in no time flat.