Easy Tomato Basil Sauce

So my tomatoes are starting to roll in. Which is great. They started to ripen a bit late this year so I was a little worried. While I love homemade tomato sauce canning isn't something I enjoy doing, so here is a quick and easy way to make a delicious freezer-friendly sauce.

What you need-

14-16 tomatoes

about 1/2 cup fresh cut basil

1t balsamic vinegar

1t salt

garlic....I think the more the merrier!

1 - 2T of Italian Seasoning (or a mix of oregano, thyme, parsley)

parchment/waxed paper

first - take your tomatoes, clean them off and put an X in the bottom.

Preheat your oven to 375 and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper of waxed paper. If you only have waxed paper that's okay, it will just stick a bit to your pan. Let them roast for about 20 minutes. Take them out & let them cool until you can handle them.

Once cooled peel the skins off & core them, do this over a bowl so any juice is kept. Once all of the tomatoes are peeled/cored you need to squish/cut them all up in your bowl.

When they are all cut up add all of the other ingredients & mix well.

Pour the sauce into clean jars/containers and pop them into the freezer for up to 6 months.

I ended up with several jars today, I put 1 right into the fridge to use for tomorrow's eggplant Parmesan! There is the eggplant I just picked too.

Even after all of the sauce was made, I whipped up some fresh salsa and still have enough left for tomato pie.....that recipe will be posted once I make it - it's from my dad & SO good!

here is the salsa - that one is usually whatever I happen to have around kind of thing....this week it was tomatoes, chives, jalapeno, green/purple bell peppers and come dried cayanne peper & cumin

busy, busy, busy

We have been busy trying to enjoy the last few days of summer. The girls will be starting school soon and before we know it it's going to be time to carve pumpkins and plan a Thanksgiving dinner. WOW. Things at the shop are going great. We just picked up a few odds-n-ends for a new window display, that is next on the to-do list. I'll leave you with a pic of the girls outside color with chalk & playing house outside.....

the Opening.....

I can't tell you how wonderful this weekend has been! We had our grand opening at the shop. So many people came out to check it out, we felt truly honored.

This is an "aerial view" of the shop during on Saturday.

And here is also on of a happy Mindy & Tammy!

This week I think I will be skipping the Appleton Market & REALLY get caught up with my sewing. I have had people ordering purses since my stock of them has been so low. That is a good thing though I guess because I haven't been able to keep up :) I also have an awesome new hat to make more of too, and I need to restock Anthology. YIKES! I better get off the computer & get to it.

It's Grand Opening Time!

We have had EmmaJean's open for a glorious 4 weeks now. It has been wonderful to say the least. There have been new friendships made and many wonderful handcrafted goodies have found new homes. We have been so pleased with the feedback we have been getting from shoppers. I feel so lucky!
To help celebrate we will be having our GRAND OPENING this Saturday night during Downtown's Gallery Walk (www.oshkoshgallerywalk.com) . We will be having a few giveaways (an adorable mommy & me apron set AND gift certificates too!)
The ladies from Mind & Body Products will also be at the shop and you will be able to try out all of their great bath & body products out.
I hope to see you there!

EmmaJean's Boutique
223 N Main St
Oshkosh, WI 54901
Wed-Fri 10-5
Saturday 10-2, grand opening celebration 6-9pm