extra vegatables

[heavyduty]

This is my first year with a garden and not knowing what to expext for a harvest I planted extra green pepper/ hot pepper and tomato plants and it looks like I'm going to have plenty of extra of every thing was wondering what others do to enjoy these though out the year salsa, sauce,etc. and is there a way to pickle or preserve the hot peppers to use later in the year. thanks for any advice.

p.s. will try to post this also in lawn and garden

[New Yankee]

HD - not sure what hot peppers you have, but we used to grow a bunch of japalenos and can them in this fashion:

Slice the jap's cross wise like they come sliced from the store. When doing this use HD dishwashing gloves - I've burned my hands in two thicknesses of surgical gloves and it isn't fun. Wash your pint mason jars in the dishwasher at the hotest temp availible. Boil a combo of 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar after filling the jars (we add a clove of garlic to each) and pour the mixture just off the stove into the jars, sealing them with the lids as quickly as possible.

If the lid tops 'suck down' like they would do with conventional steam bathed and boiled canning methods you're good to go.

This has worked for us well in the past and keeps the peppers from getting over cooked and mushy - kinda like a parboiled canning method. Don't forget the Heavy duty gloves or you WILL be sorry!

[BobT]

Have you got a dehydrator?

Bob

[Swamp Scooter]

You can also use the hot peppers and a coupel of different methods and make poppers!! Fill them with a cream cheese and chive or whatever you want to and pump/push it in then roll them in a breading and freeze on a cookie sheet. When frozen put in zip bag and they will be ready to bake or fry when you are out ice fishing!