Bottle Cap Salsa Recipes

CANNED (BOTTLED) SALSA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Blanch the tomatoes by dropping them into the boiling water for one minute. You will need to do them in batches.
• Transfer them to a large bowl or sink full of cold water.
• Fish them out and peel them.
• Chop them coarsely and sprinkle with pickling salt in layers as you go - I try to use about 4 tablespoons.
• Put them in a strainer and set in a cool place (but NOT the fridge!) to drain for several hours.
• When you are ready to procede, put all the canning jars in a large canner full of water to cover by one inch, and bring to a boil.
• Boil for 10 minutes.
• If your water is very hard, add a shot of vinegar to the water before it boils (to prevent lime build-up on bottles).
• Meanwhile, peel and chop the onions.
• Peel and deseed the peppers, and chop them.
• Peel and mince the garlic.
• Mix the tomato paste with cupful of the tomatoes until it is lump-free.
• Mix all the ingredients except the lime juice in a large kettle or pot.
• Bring the salsa to a boil.
• Lift the sterilized jars from the boiling water bath and empty them.
• (Most should be emptied into the sink, so the boiling water bath doesn't overflow when they go back in).
• Add 3 tbsps lime juice to each jar.
• Pack the salsa into the jars.
• Wipe rims, and seal according to manufacturer's instructions.
• (Generally, boil lids and rings for 5 minutes).
• Return the bottles to the boiling water bath and process them for 20 minutes. It may be necessary to do this in two batches; put as many in the canner as you are able to; when they come out add the next batch of jars to be sterilized while you fill the first set. Take them out and fill them as the first set of filled jars is being processed.
• Remove, allow to cool, and check seals.

BIG BATCH SALSA (FOR CANNING)

Steps:

• Fill roaster with tomatoes, crushing with hands or with an emersion blender as you add them to the pan.
• Add onions, jalapenos, garlic, vinegar, sugar, salt, and tomato paste. (Note: Sometimes I need to let the tomatoes cook down before adding the sugar, vinegar, and tomato paste so that it will fit in the roaster.
• Simmer 2 to 5 hours to desired thickness. Stir occasionally, scraping sides of roaster so that it does not burn. Adjust salt, sugar, and peppers to taste. You can add tomato juice if it becomes too thick.
• Ladle hot salsa into jars, leaving ¼-inch head space.
• Clean rim with damp cloth. Adjust two-piece caps.
• Place jars in a hot water bath. Process 15 minutes (pints) or 20 minutes (quarts), after water comes to a boil.
• Remove jars from hot water bath. After 12 hours, check seal, remove bands, and label.

BOTTLECAP COCKTAIL

Steps:

• Combine ingredients & serve on the rocks.