top of page
Search
hollilathroum2

Enjoy the fresh flavors of summertime any time of the year.


By Brian Haney


HELP!? My garden worked out WAY too well! Freezing, canning, dehydrating and

preserving my way out of an abundance of produce.


At the first hint of spring warming, you got an uncontrollable urge to feel dirt under your

fingernails. Out came the seed packets you saved from last year. Seed starting trays

and paper egg cartons you had been hoarding covered every square inch of available

sunny space in the windowsills. Those sunny windowsills worked for a while. The

seedlings sprouted, and you cared for them like family, until finally you were able to

plant them outside and really watch them take off!


Now, a couple of months later it’s summertime. It’s harvest time and you have a

problem, a big problem, but a really good problem. What are you going to do with all

those veggies? Tomatoes, zucchini and yellow squash always seem to produce a lot

more than expected.


Here are a few ways to preserve and savor the bounty from your garden all year.



Freezing tomatoes is so easy and satisfying. If you have an abundance of red

tomatoes, let Diana from Wandering Hoof Ranch show you how to do it quickly, and

easily. How to Freeze Tomatoes Fresh from the Garden (wanderinghoofranch.com)

Using her method you will have plenty of garden-fresh tomato goodness any time you

want it. Use them in stews, soups, sauces or even in bread as you will learn later.


Or how about this one? Tracy, from Oh, the Things We’ll Make has a delicious and

versatile recipe for tomato powder. Use it in soups, stews or sauces to bring an intense

tomato flavor. Learn how to make your own tomato powder, dehydrate tomatoes or sun

dry tomatoes here: How to Make Tomato Powder.


Don’t put the dehydrator away just yet though.

Dehydrated zucchini chips are great for storing, preserving or snacking. Add ranch

seasoning, or dill, or salt and pepper while they’re drying to create your new favorite

treat. Zucchini is nearly 95% water so make sure to get all the water out of them, that

way all that is left is a deliciously healthy chip. Martha Piccolo has some tips for


Zucchini and Yellow Squash can also be frozen. To enjoy the abundance your garden

has to offer any time of the year follow these easy steps from The Food Network


Need some other options? How about Zucchini Pickles, or Zucchini Relish?


Zucchini is hardier than other vegetables which makes it a great choice for pickling, and

since you have so much zucchini, you’ll have plenty to share with everyone you know.

One large zucchini can fill 2 or 3 jars. Here is some great advice for making easy

zucchini pickles. Add your favorite seasonings again for spicy, or sweet, or bread and


For a homemade summertime twist, try zucchini relish anyplace you may use pickle

relish. Use it in egg salad, or on hot dogs. Make it spicy or sweet. Here’s a recipe

using sweet peppers, but you could use jalapeno peppers too, try this Zucchini Relish


Zucchini bread is always a good option and there are probably a thousand different

zucchini bread recipes out there. What about tomato bread? This will put an amazing spin on your grilled cheese sandwich or use your dehydrator again for easy tomato croutons.


There are so many ways to use the abundance of veggies you get from your own

backyard. Canning your own marinara sauce or making your own salsa can keep your

grocery bill down and give you a feeling of connectedness to the food you eat. After all,

you made it yourself!



My all-time favorite garden surplus go-to though, is Tomato Jam. This sweet spread with tomatoes, sugar and spices could easily replace ketchup in your

life forever! Try it and see. It may just be the whole reason you decide to plant a garden again next year.



Brian Haney is a writer and a traveler, and a nurse. A former West Virginia resident traveling the country and enjoying the small-town experience. "Superhighways connect us all, but the slow lane is where life really happens." Leave a comment or reach him at brianehaney@gmail.com.

30 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page