925 sun dried tomatoes ?

Me again...I'm hooked on this now !!

Our neighbours are really great and are constantly turning up with loads of their produce for us when it is in season. Problem is they usually give me half a carrier bag full of whatever is ready and as there are only the two of us, and visitors not due to 30th August ,some of it is going to waste.

Yesterday we were given a huge bag of plum tomatoes and they are fabulous. Does anyone know how to sun dry them. Not enough really to bottle but thought I might have a go at sun-drying some.
Next year we will have our own veggie patch , so thought I might practise this year !!

Also got 4 huge melons !!! Can you freeze Melon balls ?

Any tips on preserving some of this lovely stuff for winter gratefully received.
As the 'gifts' are varied, any advise on preserving ( freezing , bottling , drying) gratefully received.

I've bottled fruit before in the UK but not sure it was that successful ( how long does it keep )...this is all new to me but willing to learn !

Category
Food & Drink

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2005 - 05:27

Hi Lyn,
I've done dried tomoatoes a few times ,all be it the oven dried variety. Of course you'll be able to do it the authentic way with the Puglian sun !
It's dead easy. All you do is half your toms and place them on a wire mesh, cut side up. Sprinkle with salt and fresh thyme and a rosemary leaf on each. Now , I dry mine in a very low oven (100c) with the door propped open , for about 8 hours. I suppose you can just sit yours on the patio but I dont know how long they'll take. They should be slightly chewy but still soft and not hard and cracking.
Pile them into sterilised jars interspersed with more thyme and rosemary and some bay leaves. Then top it up with olive oil.
They're really delicious and ours often hardly make it to the jars before they're gone
I've also got a lovely recipe for preserving lemons. If you want it give a shout.
Fiona

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2005 - 10:20

Hi Fiona,

Thanks for the tips...they have been out all yesterday afternoon and all today from when the sun came up !!! ..but they are still a bit 'ooozy', do you think I should give them another go tomorrow ( still about 3 hours of good sun left today !!!)

According to my instructions (see web page in previous log)...i need to soak them in warm water to get rid of salt ( i used quite a bit and I musn't have too much salt !!), then dry them in the sun again...must confess thought I would do it all in one day...am i being too impatient !!!!

They still look good though.....but as I say a bit ooozy !..but i'm dead excited about my first batch !!!

Lyn

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/30/2005 - 15:06

Hi Lyn,
you need to try out your tomatoes to see how they seem. Chewy but squidgy and not too dry is the best way I can describe how I think they should be ! I wonder if they'll be a bit salty though and I'll be interested to hear if the soaking takes the saltiness away. I reckon yours need a bit longer in the sun by the sonds of it.
I have often wondered about the flies when drying stuff in the sun. Dont they all come and land on your tomatoes when they're lying in the sun?
Fiona

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 00:27

hi fiona,

Yes i'm gonna give them a bit longer this morning in the sun, then bottle them and see what happens. They still look really healthy, so I shall persevere.

I'm concerned about the salt, and I was about the flies as well, but strangely enough, there hasn't been anything near them at all......now is that the salt keeping the flies off...a scientific poser !!!!!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/31/2005 - 06:28

Well... I've soaked the dried toms 3 times but they still seem a bit salty to me..anyway i've now re-dried them and put a basil leaf between two ( perhaps the basil leaf will absorb some of the salt !) . Must admit i pinched a couple before I bottled them in Olive Oil ...delicious when you got passed the salt . Mind you, I don't like salt and can taste it a mile off, perhaps they are OK for others ( i.e. husband loves salt..constantly hiding the salt cellar for his health !!)

If anyone know anothe way of sun-drying without salt , please let me know