Today we celebrated Easter with my family.  On Easter, we weren't all available, so we gathered today at Travis and Sarah's house for brunch and an egg hunt for the kids.  Beacuse it is spring and the nice weather we've been experiencing the conversation turned to gardening.  I like the idea of growing my own vegetables, but it also sounds like a lot of work.  In the past year, I have found a salsa recipe I like that actually uses canned whole tomatoes.  I've often thought about canning my salsa, instead of having to make it fresh everytime I want some, but the more I read about that the more I think that isn't a good idea because of the issues with tomato acidity and making sure get it right. The next thought I had was to can my own tomatoes so I know exactly what is going into them--definitely more doable and I have some experts to work with--my parents.  Growing-up I remember summer days after the tomatoes had rippened, my mom and dad prepping and cooking down the tomatoes for juice and sauce.  From the conversation with my family today I learned that my dad and brother both probably have enough extra tomato plants to share a few with me and my mom would let me use her pressure cooker.  Now the only questions are (1) do I want to do the extra work it will take to grow and can my own tomatoes and (2) will Molly leave the plants alone?

This evening after an enjoyable dinner with Joel's parents we watched Food, Inc., a documentary about where our food comes from and what is really in it.  I appreciated the tone and the approach of the film makers.  It didn't feel like they were preaching to us or trying to sway us to become vegetarians.  I felt the goal of the film was to get us to think.  And thinking I am,  the film seemed to reinforce todays' conversations with my family.

For more Easter photos, click on the photo.