Freezing Tomatoes

Freeze Your Tomatoes!

Keep a taste of summer in your freezer to enjoy throughout the season! I personally love growing Roma tomatoes, but you can preserve any type quickly and easily. Theoretically, I suppose you could just pop your tomatoes in the freezer with skins and all, however, I find it easiest to blanch and peel them before freezing them so I can cook with them from frozen rather than having to thaw and then peel. I think the blanching probably kills anything "icky" on them, too.

First you'll want to wash your tomatoes. Then use a coring tool or a knife to cut an "x" through one end of each tomato.

Now you will want to set up three stations: A pot of boiling water, a big bowl of ice water, and a place to peel your tomatoes -- it's easiest if these are all in a row.

Carefully immerse tomatoes in a pot of boiling water. Allow them to boil for only about 30 seconds or so, and then use a slotted spoon to immediately submerge them in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process (and so they are cooled enough to handle safely).

Remove from ice water to a paper towel, cutting board or platter and then just peel the skins right off. The stems and skins go straight to my compost pile afterward.

I like to place my beautifully peeled tomatoes in a single layer inside a freezer bag to save space. Before sealing the bag, use a straw to suck the air out.

If you plan to use your summer tomatoes for soups, you may want to remove the seeds before freezing as well. To do this, after peeling, cut them in half and scoop out the seeds. I like to strain the seeds from the "juice" that comes out with them and then pour the juice back in with the tomatoes so I'm not missing out on any tomato goodness.

Happy Peeling!

You can watch a video of this process at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhY5vz7koc

Front Porch Decor

Lazy Front Porch Afternoon

The sun is shining, the cicadas are humming, the lemonade is made. It's time to pull up a chair and settle in on the front porch. For me, the front porch is where I go to relax, maybe pot a few flowers, and because it is covered, it is the ideal place to sit and listen to a gentle summer storm.

This seating area was made possible through some fun and colorful cushions found at Target in the blue/coral combination I've been loving lately. The table and chairs were purchased from a grocery store several years ago. The set could use a new coat of paint, but I still adore it.










Tucked into a space seemingly made just for it, resides my potting bench, purchased from Gardener's Supply Co. Here is where I get to "play." A bold turquoise paint color makes it the brightest spot of the porch.














I like to switch up what hangs on the front door. Usually it is a wreath, but lately I've enjoyed hanging herbs. Here is a nice, fragrant chocolate mint to greet visitors.

Chocolate Min

Check out my YouTube channel, Life As Laura, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1MXv1WfEtc to see a complete tour of our front porch and the back deck as well. Please like and subscribe!

Natural Centerpieces

In my opinion, the best centerpieces are beautiful, yet simple and inexpensive. Sounds ideal, right? My favorite centerpieces to make use elements from my yard and repurposed vessels. Even if you don't have anything blooming, simple branches, even sticks, can look amazing when purposefully displayed.
                                               
The eyes have it! These Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susans) look simply sweet displayed in these vintage looking French bottles. I've seen these bottles at HomeGoods and other decor stores, but these are actually from Aldi! You need a little elbow grease to get the labels off, but the upside is you also get to enjoy the delicious sparkling lemonade that comes with them -- all for less than 3 bucks each. The tray was purchased from a "sample sale" held by a giftware company decades ago.
                                                     
Herbs, herbs, herbs! What could be better in a kitchen than fresh cut herbs? These pretty little things were cut from my container herb garden that sits on the deck. The bottles are a mix of store-bought olive oil bottles and a set of oil and vinegar cruets. The ceramic tray was a super clearance buy at Hobby Lobby. The herbs I used include chocolate mint, lavender, thyme, parsley, and oregano, but you can use just one or as many as you have.

Harvest Time. This time of year, there is plenty of fresh produce in my garden to add pops of color to my kitchen counters. A few cucumbers, some Roma tomatoes and a pretty candle on a cutting board are all you need for one of the fastest centerpiece ideas under the sun.









Branch out. Even without flowers or buds, branches add that bit of the outdoors to any interior space. Just be sure to shake them out really well before bringing them inside -- or you may have some extra company of the insect variety.












Check out a video of these ideas on my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXlnPT0VnLEgTi9Ud_xuwg Please Like and Subscribe!

Dance, Gymnastics & Cheer Hair Ties

Okay Dance/Cheer/Gymnastics Moms, have I got a SUPER easy scrunchie for you to make. All you need is an elastic hair tie, 1" x 8" strips of fabric, and coordinating ribbon if so desired.

I've actually made these twice and both times were a huge success. I went to Jo-Ann's and purchased a few yards of the fabrics. The hardest part of this project is cutting the strips. Using pinking shears, cut the fabric into the strips. You can make them a little longer or shorter depending on your preference. 

Then just start tying the strips around the elastic. I used 12 per elastic but you can use more or less depending on the thickness of your fabric. 

We made these as part of a team-building party for my daughter's gymnastics team and the girls enjoyed making them and wearing them at the AAU Age Group Nationals this past June. Really fun, way easy!

Kids' Favorite Meatloaf

A Sweet & Savory Recipe the Whole Family Will Love

 As a kid, I DREADED meatloaf night. I’m talking, “hide in a closet until dinner was over” kind of dread. I wasn’t necessarily a picky eater, but my mother’s meatloaf left a LOT to be desired, especially from a kid’s perspective. It was dry, it was salty, and even drowning my slice in ketchup could not make it any more appealing. I vowed I would never make such a vile dish for my family.

Off to college I went where I quickly learned that college cafeteria meatloaf is far worse than my mother’s – this was a shocking discovery. After only one semester I found myself almost looking forward to some of dear Mom’s ground beef concoction.

A few years ago I decided I was going to introduce my daughter to this culinary staple of “homefood.” However, it was NOT going to be the one I grew up with (sorry Mom!). The one below is, by far, the best meatloaf I’ve ever made. My now 8-year-old daughter actually REQUESTS meatloaf night, and the 3-year-old gobbles it up happily. I think the key is the brown sugar, giving it a nice sweetness to balance out the savory onion and beef flavors.

It’s even better in sandwiches the next day, that is, if there are any leftovers!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dry mustard 
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 3 slices bread, toasted and grated
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cube beef bouillon, crumbled

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

1. In a small bowl, combine ketchup, brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and dry mustard until smooth.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, shredded bread, onion, egg, bouillon, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1/3 cup of the ketchup mixture until well mixed. Form into a loaf and place in a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
3. Bake 1 hour. Pour off fat. Pour reserved ketchup mixture over loaf. Bake 10 minutes more.

Tropical Banana Bread

A new twist on an old favorite

Hmmm. What to do with those last few bananas in the bunch…you know, the ones that are too ripe for your kids to eat, but not so ripe that they become fruit fly bait. I make banana bread and muffins incessantly, so I was ready to try something new. After some experimenting, I’ve found this tropical version to be one of my favorites.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 2 cups mashed ripe bananas

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. In another bowl, beat the eggs, oil and vanilla; add pineapple and bananas. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

(Add a few maraschino cherries or top with coconut flakes if desired.)

Ethereal Mirror

Easy Weeknight Project!
For years we’ve had a $10 over-the-door mirror hanging from our closet door. Over time the plastic frame has yellowed and it was looking pretty pitiful all-around. So you know what that means – time for a MAKEOVER! And gosh, do I love a good makeover.

Mirror Before -- Boring and UGLY

 First I painted the frame green with a basic acrylic craft paint. Then I grabbed my trusty glue gun, told the kiddos to get lost, and attached some artificial greens and flowery garland (cut apart) around the entire frame.

After -- So pretty!

 I love it, though the hubs was less than thrilled with MORE flowers in the boudoir, but hey, that’s what the man cave in the basement is for, right?!