Ad-Free Blog Our garden is our Green way of living on a lot 80 x 120. We avoid toxic chemicals, GMO seeds and harmful insecticides. We have well water---so even the chemicals used in processed water are avoided. Though this year everything is late the garden...IT'S Going CRAZY all at once for a change, except for our peppers, which will be ready next week. Only thing I had to purchase for Mabel and Sandi's Italian Zuchinni in Stewed Tomatoes was the peppers, celery, and onions, and lemon juice. This is an old family favorite. My mom and I concocted in the 1970's to replace our favorite shelf staple of 'Delmonte' Stewed Zuchinni, as stores weren't carrying it anymore. We used the label ingredients and improvised a bit and this is the version we came up with. Prepare tomatoes: I use these techniques in my last post: Preparing Garden Tomatoes for Canning MABEL and SANDI's Italian Zucchini in Stewed Tomatoes Makes about 7 Quarts or 14 pints. Stewed Tomatoes: 2 quarts of peeled and chopped tomatoes 1 cup of chopped celery 1 cup of chopped onion 1 cup of chopped peppers (green, yellow or orange)(sweet) 1/8 cup of minced spicy pepper or 1/4 tsp of hot pepper flakes (optional) hand chop or put in electric chopper 1 head of garlic cleaned 1/4 cup of chopped parsley/cilantro 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil. 1/8 cup of chopped fresh oregano (you can use dried herbs if you desire, I've used Italian herb mix in the past) bring the above ingredients just to a boil, process or move on to adding the zucchini. (Stewed Tomatoes alone can be hot packed into hot jars and processed in a water bath canner---follow instructions from your favorite canning resource. In each jar, I add 1Tbsp of lemon juice and 1tsp canning salt to each quart, or 1/2Tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. canning salt to each pint. This is your preservative, lemon for color and acidity and salt for preservation and flavor. To make the Stewed Zuchinni add sliced zucchini to the stewed tomatoes. The rest of this recipe MUST be pressure canned! ADD: Add 12 cups of cut up zucchini and or summer squash (skins included) I cutaway any large seeds. Bring to boil and simmer for 30-45 min. until almost totally cooked through (The zucchini will be somewhat transparent.) Ladle into hot/sterilized jars. MUST ADD THESE: for Quarts ADD 2 Tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp. salt (Lemon juice maintains acidic balance, salt is for preserving) clean rims, add hot seals Process for 35 min at 10# in pressure canner -following manufacturer's instructions. for Pints -ADD 1 Tsp of lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. salt Process for 30 min at 10# in pressure canner-following manufacturer's instructions. Flavors mingle and intensify during canning. Add extra herbs/salt/or even sugar to taste when opened. Always reheat home processed canned goods to boil-temp before eating. Remove from canner and cover with a few towels to let your jars cool down slowly. ENJOY fresh tomatoes/zucchini all winter long. Flavors mingle and intensify during pressure canning. But, you can always add extra herbs/salt/or even sugar to taste when opened. Always heat home-canned goods to boil-temp before eating. Great with served with sausage, hamburger, in soup, or served as a side dish with any pasta. We got 2 quarts and 6 pints from this recipe, being two people the pints are the perfect size. All the opinions and photographs in this blog are my own. I have not been paid or reimbursed in anyway for my opinions, posts or any products shown or anywhere I shop. Thanks always for visiting. I will try and respond to every comment and answer every question. Sharing at these Ad Free blog parties-with ads not in the middle of the blog (I'm going to try and see if this is possible) Home and Garden Thursday Thursday Favorite Things Friday Favorites Best of the Weekend Wonderful Wednesday Talk of the Town Pink Saturday Amaze Me Monday Share Your Style Grammy's Grid Thank you for your cooperation, Sandi Magle