CANDIED TOMATO PRESERVES, Not your peanut butters Jelly.

This thick Candied Tomato Preserves goes great with cheese and crackers.  If cooked down
enough it becomes almost like a soft candy chew when cold.  Yum!  Chewable vitamins:)

I have been making Candied Tomato Preserves for about 40 years now.  I've tweaked it a bit to my benefit of course.  But, I must say, these are not your ordinary preserves. For one, it has about 1/2 the sugar than regular store bough preserves. Secondly, the tomatoes retain their fresh homegrown tomatoes taste and condensed micro-nutrition. Third, you cannot find these tomato preserves in your local markets. And last of all it is cheap and easy to make. (Being cheap and easy makes it an affordable gift in a gift basket for any occasion.)
This 4 ingredient Candied Tomato Preserves goes exceptionally well with cheese and or crackers.  It would definitely be a delight to serve the newborn King (when he gets older), but for now, let's treat us!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound Small tomatoes (cherry or grape seed)  Homegrown or organic is best as the flavor makes a big difference in taste.  Also, soft skinned tomatoes works best for this recipe as the skin breaks down to a candy.  You can put them in the blender to break it down more. Also, you can always opt to skin the tomatoes by blanching them in boiling water for one minute before you remove the skins.  I've also made this with canned tomatoes, but I added jalapenos, and bell peppers.  So many ways to play with this recipe.
• 1 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Lemon Juice (reconstituted is fine)
• 1 teaspoon Salt

I put all the ingredients in a stainless steel pot and cooked it down on a medium low flame for 30 minutes.  Stirring and mashing them frequently towards the end to avoid the bottom from burning

Next, you want to reduce the flame to low, and mash the tomatoes some more stirring frequently for about 10-15 minutes
or until you smell a caramel smell.  It is quite thick but will thicken a lot more when it has cooled down.

I ended up with 10 ounces of Sweet Candied Tomato Preserves.  Put this in a container with a lid.  These pic show it nice and thick while warm.

Like I said earlier, the taste is incredible good because I used
organic.  I used 1/2 the normal required sugar, but you would
never know.  These Candied Tomato Preserves,
cannot be bought at you local market, which by the way,
makes great gifts. Also, The price was right!  Fridays, out local 99 cent
store sells organic produce.  I also got the lemon juice and sea
salt there. 

Ok, how easy was this?  No need for a candy thermometer, or pectic, artificial flavors, or any other gadgets. Personally, I think it is definitely worth the time and effort to treat yourself to a tasty dish loaded with condensed micro-nutrients like vitamin C and Lycopene.  Well that's it for now.  I have a lot of catching up to do.  So till the next time, please like and share.  You have my permission to Pin It, Thank you for allowing me to be of service.  Till the next time...Many Blessings.

Sincerely,

Mary Helen