its all about the tomato

Last weekend, my friend, Rechelle, organized a party all about the tomato. You see, she planted a garden and had far more tomatoes than she knew what to do with.

First we had a little tomato taste test. She grew multiple varieties and wanted to know what our favorite(s) were so she knew what varieties she should plant next year.



You would think that a tomato, is a tomato, is a tomato, right? They'd all taste the same. Wrong. Honestly, I could tell a difference. Who would have thought?

Then after she fed us as many tomatoes as we could eat, it was time for entertainment. Sarah gave a demonstration on how to can tomatoes. She was fabulous! I think she may have a cooking show in her future. She even tried to do this with a French accent.....maybe she was trying to be Julia?

Here are a few of her very attentive pupils. Look at that concentration.



She knew she had a lot of work ahead of her so she wasted no time.




Then she put the rest of us to work. We decided anything is more fun when you do it with your girlfriends. We also learned it's important to have lots and lots of pots available as well as really good knives.

Sarah even checked our work. She just dug right in there to make sure we were getting the tomatoes cut to the proper size and that we didn't leave anything in them that wasn't supposed to be.

She uses the hot-pack method. This is what her mother does and it's also recommended by the official Ball Blue Book.

At this point I think we've received all instructions and it's time to get these 'maters in the jars.

(no idea why my photos are suddenly left-hand justified...I'm too tired to try and fix it. sorry folks.)

When we got to a stopping point, Rechelle did feed us again and this time it was way better than tomatoes. Some fantabulous chocolate raspberry cake....oh was it good. Girls must keep up their strength when they're exerting so much energy in the kitchen. Right? I wanted another slice of that cake but didn't want to be the only one to over indulge in the good stuff. So, I was a lady and stopped with one.

Rechelle's got more pics and stories about this tomato party here. If that's not enough for you, there's more here too. Tomatoes aren't your usual party theme but Rechelle is one to bust out of the ordinary. It was a great way to spend an afternoon with my girls.

And, Sarah? The gal that gave us the canning lesson? She's my friend that has been sharing her garden bounty with me all summer.