DIY: Freezing & Canning Tomato Sauce

After our adventure to a Produce Auction we had some work to do in regards to preserving this fresh produce for the coming months.  This is yet another DIY post related to the Produce we purchased with detailed information on the process we followed.

We purchased 20 lb. of Roma Tomatoes at the Produce Auction for $10.

First we boiled water and allowed the tomatoes to boil for 30 seconds - 1 minute to allow the skins to break open to easily remove.  After removing the tomatoes from the boiling water, we placed them in cold water.

We peeled the skins off the tomatoes and then cut them into quarters.  I did not remove the seeds from the tomatoes.

Then we placed the tomatoes in the blender to puree them (I currently do not have a food processor).

We preserved the roma tomatoes several different ways:

• After removing the skins and cutting into quarters, we canned pint size jars of tomatoes.
• Making tomato sauce by simply cooking the tomatoes for 2-3 hours until they formed a sauce consistency.  This sauce we froze in quart size freezer bags.
• Making tomato sauce using a recipe from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle which you can find here.  This sauce we froze in quart size freezer bags and we canned in pint size jars. 

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here. Tweet

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)

These prices are valid from September 14 thru September 21.

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


One Day Deals!    

Tomorrow's One Day Deal Wild Caught Raw Shell On Shrimp U-15 Count (previously frozen, Product of the USA) $10.99/lb. Regularly $18.99/lb. Save $8.00.

This Week's Hot Deals!

FROM OUR BUTCHER Beef Skirt Steak
Makes an excellent steak sandwich. Raised on a vegetarian diet; no antibiotics ever and no added hormones.
$7.99 lb
Reg. $9.99 lb

FROM OUR BUTCHER Split Bone-In Chicken Breast
Perfect for roasting, and it’s air-chilled for best flavor and texture.
No antibiotics ever; raised on a vegetarian diet.
$2.99 lb
Reg. $4.49 lb

PRODUCT OF USA FRESH, WILD-CAUGHT West Coast Dover Sole
Pearly white fillets with a fresh, mild, exceedingly sweet flavor — a superb
choice for broiling, steaming or pan-searing. Fresh, never frozen.
$8.99 lb
Reg. $11.99 lb

CALIFORNIA
Organic Seedless Red Grapes
Large and sweet. Our buyers look for full and healthy grapes. A couple big bunches on a platter makes a lovely centerpiece and a refreshing
end to a meal.
$2.49 lb
Reg. $3.49 lb

FROM OUR BUTCHER 90% Lean Ground Sirloin
$4.99 lb
Reg. $6.49 lb

CALIFORNIA Organic Baby Broccoli
2 for $5
Reg. $2.99 ea

LADY MOON FARMS PENNSYLVANIA Organic Heirloom Tomatoes
$3.99 lb
Reg. $4.99 lb

FROM OUR SPECIALTY DEPARTMENT Farmhouse Gouda
Rich, raw milk Gouda from Holland.
$9.99 lb
Reg. $15.99 lb

ANNIE’S HOMEGROWN Crackers
In select varieties.
(7.5 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $3.49 ea

KETTLE BRAND Potato Chips
In select flavors.
(13 oz)
2 for $7
Reg. $4.99 ea

IZZE Sparkling Juices
In select flavors.
(4-pack x 12 fl oz)
2 for $8
Reg. $5.49 ea

ARROWHEAD MILLS Organic Cereal
In select varieties.
(10 – 13 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $4.49 – $4.99 ea

Whole Trade™ Rainbow Pompoms
(15- stem bunch)
$6.99 ea
Reg. $7.99 ea

GNU FOODS Flavor & Fiber Bars
Try Espresso Chip, Orange Cranberry or Cinnamon Raisin.
(1.6 oz)
$1.29 ea
Reg. $1.99 ea

GARDEN OF LIFE RAW Protein Powder
Raw, vegan and organic.
(22 oz)
$29.99 ea
Reg. $39.99 ea

SEVENTH GENERATION Diapers
(21 – 44 count)
$9.99 ea
Reg. $11.99 ea

These Hot Deals! are local to Whole Foods Market - Ohio locations.

Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Your Green Helper.

Sustainable Saturday - 5 Tips for Eco-Friendly Tailgating!

I honestly can't believe it's that time of the year when it's time to think about football. As I listened to the band play last evening at our local high school football game, I had the realization that fall is on its way.

So you're headed to the game next weekend and you want to improve your overall experience by reducing the amount of trash associated with tailgating. As you can tell I bleed scarlet and gray (Ohio State) for those of you non-football fans. At Ohio State I've heard that the grounds staff spends something like an entire day cleaning up after a home football game due to the amount of trash. Now I agree that this is ridiculous in itself and people in general should take responsibility for their mess, what if everyone had incentive to take their trash home by placing it in their compost pile or getting perks for recycling.

In the past I've done posts on the benefits of both. You can read about Composting Basics and the RecycleBank program here, here and here.

5 Tips for Eco-Friendly Tailgating!

1.  Purchase compostable, biodegradable and sustainable paper products like ultra green, Earth Shell or Solo Bare.  I would like to point out that if you do purchase something that is biodegradable only or plan on placing one of the products listed above into a trash bag headed for the landfill, it will not biodegrade.  Nothing biodegrades a 100% in a landfill that is not a composting landfill.  If you place these products in a separate container or bag to be placed in your compost pile these products will easily break down, usually within a week in my experience, and you will benefit from rich compost for your garden and yard.

2.  Tasty Beverages are usually an essential part of any tailgating experience.  Whether you are talking about some Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk Boxes or some local brews.  One of our favorite companies is Great Lakes Brewing Company.  Great Lakes Brewing Company is a principle-centered, environmentally respectful and socially conscious company committed to crafting fresh, flavorful, high-quality beer and food for the enjoyment of their customers.  Located in on the West Side in Cleveland, OH, they distribute to 13 states in the U.S.

Great Lakes Brewing Company on Sustainability:

Great Lakes Brewing Company is an environmentally and socially conscious brewer of award-winning, all natural beer. The care that goes into the beer resonates from a commitment to the community and environment, otherwise known as the "Triple Bottom Line" - to engage in economic, social and environmental practices that achieve a sustainable, yet profitable, business.
We believe the Triple Bottom Line is going to become increasingly important as people focus more on responsible purchasing. This commitment to sustainability is present in almost every aspect of our business including:

• Reducing, reusing and recycling
• Changing natural resource use from "Take, Make, Waste" to "Take, Make, Remake"
• Implementing efficient energy practices
• Investing in the community through non-profit organizations
• Supporting sustainable urban renewal projects

You can read about their Pint Size Farm and even more Sustainable Initiatives here.

3. Meat is another essential for tailgating.  Look for either a Local Farmer's Market or Farm to purchase your meat to get a better quality product and lessen the impact on the environment.  We purchase meat from a farm in Ashtabula County.  You can also look for products like Laura's Lean Ground Beef at your local grocery store for a more environmentally friendly option.  

4.  Supplement some of your tailgate fair by going meatless.  A great way to do this is with beans (black, pinto, kidney) to make a variety of dishes like nachos, chili (a fan favorite), fajitas, etc.  I like to cook my beans ahead in a big pot and freeze them in quart freezer bags for easy use later on.  These are a great way to make a portion your tailgate fare meatless and so easy to grab a couple bags from the freezer and put them in the cooler.  

5. Purchase tailgate essentials from your local Farmer's Markets to get local and organic fresh produce, meats and even dairy products.  Not all items found at Farmer's Markets are Organic, however many people argue that Local and Fresh are just as important, if not more so than Organic. 

You can search for Local Farmer's Markets in your area at Local Harvest.

Read about The New Dirty Dozen:  12 Foods to Eat Organic


I suppose I've started a Series by accident.  You can read more about my Tips for Eco-Friendly living:

10 Tips to Buying Organic on a Budget
5 Tips for Eco-Friendly Back-to-School
5 Tips for a Eco-Friendly Vacation

Originally published by Saving Family Green in August 2010.

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here. Tweet

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)

These prices are valid from September 7 thru September 13.

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


One Day Deals!    

Mmmm, gelato! This Friday, September 9, 2011, Telenti Gelato is our One Day Deal! Buy One Get One Free!!!

This Week's Hot Deals!

FROM OUR BUTCHER Boneless Sirloin Steaks
Give it a quick marinade for extra flavor and tenderness, then grill or broil. Excellent for kabobs and stir-fries too.
$7.99 lb
Reg. $9.99 lb

APPLEGATE FARMS Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
Fully cooked! Ready for sandwiches and topping salads. Choose Plain or Southwest flavored.
(8 oz)
$4.99 ea
Reg. $6.99 ea

PRODUCT OF USA Fresh, Wild Haddock Fillet
Mild, light flavor and buttery, flaky texture. Pan-sear or bake with a dusting of panko.
$8.99 lb
Reg. $10.99 lb

CALIFORNIA Organic Seedless Green Grapes
Sweet, crunchy, organically grown grapes at a price that’s too good to resist. Add to lunch boxes or roast some with pears and sweet
wine for dessert.
$2.49 lb
Reg. $3.49 lb

BELL & EVANS Breaded Chicken Tenders
In Plain or Gluten Free. (12 oz)
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE
Reg. $6.99 ea

CALIFORNIA Organic Cantaloupe Chunks
$2.99 lb
Reg. $4.99 lb

PRODUCT OF CANADA Wild-Caught Snow Crab Legs
Previously Frozen.
$10.99 lb
Reg. $12.99 lb

ALLEGRO Sumatra Blue Batak Coffee
Available in Whole Bean or Ground.
(12 oz)
$9.99 ea
Reg. $14.99 ea

GARDEN OF EATIN’ Organic Tortilla Chips
In select flavors. (9 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $3.49 ea

CALIFORNIA Organic Jewel or Garnet Yams
$1.69 lb
Reg. $2.29 lb

ZEVIA Diet Soda
In select varieties.
(6 pack x 12 fl oz)
$4.79 ea
Reg. $5.99 ea

SO DELICIOUS Organic Aseptic Coconut Milk
In select varieties.
(8 pack x 6.5 fl oz)
$6.99 ea
Reg. $8.99 ea

WELLSHIRE FARMS All-Natural Black Forest Ham
$7.99 lb
Reg. $10.99 lb

SLICE OF LIFE Adult Chewy Multivitamins
A 25¢ donation goes to Vitamin Angels with every purchase! (60 caps)
$14.99 ea
Reg. $19.99 ea

EO Lavender Liquid Soap
(12 fl oz)
$4.99 ea
Reg. $8.99 ea

RED FORK Frozen Pizza
In select flavors.
(12.5 – 13.5 oz)
$4.69 ea
Reg. $6.99 ea

These Hot Deals! are local to Whole Foods Market - Ohio locations.

Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Your Green Helper.


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Sustainable Saturday - Transforming our Pantry 2011

This new Series, Transforming Our Pantry 2011, will focus on the things we will be doing to preserve local and homegrown food now that will last into the fall and winter months.  I will be posting the specifics of how we are preserving food in Friday's DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Posts.

A little background . . .

After reading the book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle we set some food goals at our house.

1. Grow, Purchase and Eat as much locally grown food as possible.  (Currently we buy vegetables in season from our local Farmer’s Market, purchase meat from a local vendor and grow a garden in our Back Yard.)
2. Preserve vegetables from our current Back Yard garden.
3. Preserve fruits and vegetables from our local Farmer’s Market.
4. Incorporate edible plants or possibly even a garden into our Front Yard landscaping.

I thought it would be interesting to document how our pantry and freezer (essentially our food supply) continues to "transform" as we implement new strategies and reinforce some old ones.  Above pictured is the tomato sauce that we canned after attending our first Produce Auction.  Locally produced maple syrup purchased at our local Farmer's Market.  While we purchase many organic items, including beans and tomato sauce, we still want to improve the quality and locality of the food we are placing in our pantry and ultimately eating.

As part of our adventure to a Produce Auction last week, we also stopped at a Amish Bulk Foods store.  Purchases at the Amish Bulk Foods store included:

Raw (Turbinado) Sugar
Whole Wheat Flour
White Flour
Oats
Brown Rice
Vanilla Extract
(and a few extras like Trail Bologna, Amish Cheeses, Banana chips and Yogurt Pretzels)

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here.
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DIY: Freezing Corn

After our adventure to a Produce Auction we had some work to do in regards to preserving this fresh produce for the coming months.

We shucked the corn and boiled water to blanch the corn for 2-3 minutes.

After allowing the corn to boil for 2-3 minutes, we then placed the ears of corn in a ice water bath.  (Most of the ice had melted by the time I took this picture.)  Another blog I read mentioned freezing water in old butter containers or the like to have larger chunks of ice to cool the water that wouldn't melt as quickly as ice cubes.  You place the corn in the ice water to stop the cooking process.

We then placed the corn in a bowl until we were ready to cut the kernels off the cob.

After removing the kernels from the cob, we placed 3 cups of corn in each quart size freezer bag.

All of our loot from the Produce Auction ready for our new deep freeze.

Note:  Some of the links referenced in this post are my referral links.  You can read Saving Family Green's Material Connection Disclosure Policy here. Tweet

Whole Foods Market® - This Week's Hot Deals (Ohio)

These prices are valid from August 31 thru September 6 .

You can read all about the current coupon deals available in both the whole deal and available to print online here.

Sales appear to be regional or even by State. Please confirm with your store their coupon policy as some stores will allow you to use one manufacturer coupon + one Whole Foods coupon per item.

UPDATE:  Whole Foods (Dublin) is no longer accepting stacked coupons due to a change in store management. 


One Day Deals!   

Tomorrow only, come get your grass fed beef. It's $4.99/lb, regularly $6.99/lb. While supplies last.

This Week's Hot Deals!

FROM OUR BUTCHER Bone-In Beef Rib Steaks
King of the grill! Robust flavor and great marbling for a tender, juicy steak experience. Just add your favorite spice blend.
$10.99 lb
Reg. $13.99 lb

FROM OUR BUTCHER Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
Easy weeknight staple that does it all — bake, broil, stir-fry or sauté.  Air-chilled for best flavor and texture.
$4.99 lb
Reg. $6.49 lb

PRODUCT OF CANADA Wild Turbot Fillet
This flatfish is similar to sole and cooks up moist and firm with a mild, sweet flavor. Great pan-fried, steamed or broiled with lemon and garlic. Previously frozen.
$9.99 lb
Reg. $12.99 lb

MEXICO Organic Kent Mangoes
Stock up now! We have some of the ripest, sweetest fruit around. Perfect for fruit salsa or try sprinkled
with cayenne pepper and
lime juice.
4 for $5
Reg. $1.99 ea

NEW JERSEY/PENNSYLVANIA Organic Grape Tomatoes
(1 pint)
2 for $4
Reg. $3.99 ea

STORE-MADE Fresh Pork, Chicken or Turkey Sausages
Selection may vary by store.
$4.49 lb
Reg. $5.99 lb

FARM-RAISED Whole Branzini
$8.99 lb
Reg. $10.99 lb

FROM OUR CHEESEMONGER Pavino Cheese
$9.99 lb
Reg. $13.99 lb

SWEET LEAF TEA Organic Bottled Teas or Lemonade
In select flavors. (16 fl oz)
5 for $5
Reg. $1.99 ea

CALIFORNIA Organic Mini Watermelon
$3.99 ea
Reg. $4.99 ea

Santa Cruz Organic Applesauce Cups
In select varieties.
(6 pack x 4 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $4.49 ea

CROFTER’S Organic Fruit Spreads
In select varieties. (11 oz)
2 for $6
Reg. $4.49 ea

WELLSHIRE FARMS All-Natural Deli Beef Bologna
$6.74 lb
Reg. $8.99 lb

GARDEN OF LIFE Raw Vitamin C
A portion of this sale goes to Vitamin Angels and nourishing children in need. (60 caps)
$12.99 ea
Reg. $17.99 ea

BACH Rescue Gum
(17 count)
$3.99 ea
Reg. $5.99 ea

CRAZY RICHARD’S Peanut Butter
In select flavors.
(16 oz)
2 for $5
Reg. $3.79 ea

These Hot Deals! are local to Whole Foods Market - Ohio locations.

Check out even more Whole Foods Market deals by visiting Your Green Helper.


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