Olive Oil Packed Sun Dried Tomatoes With Basil

Dehydrated tomatoes have a rich bold flavor that when combined with olive oil and basil. The bonus with packing in olive oil is you get both tomatoes and olive oil flavored with the dried tomatoes. The oil is great for salad dressing, dipping bread or making pasta or any other recipe calling for sun dried tomatoes. Note: Dried tomatoes in oil are less of a safety concern than low acid vegetables, like garlic mixtures in oil, because the pH of tomatoes is generally 4.6 or lower. In addition, by drying the tomatoes, conditions become even less favorable to growth of C. botulinum due to a decrease in water activity. However, to ensure safety, it is recommended that all tomato in oil and herb in oil products be stored at refrigerator temperatures and eaten within a month. Now that all your fears are gone, this recipe is from Foy Update Blog: http://foyupdate.blogspot.com/2010/08/olive-oil-packed-sun-dried-tomatoes.html .

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Yields: 1 pint

Ingredients

• 4  cups dried tomatoes (from about 12-16 cups fresh tomatoes, see recipe for Sun Dried Tomatoes here -- "sun-Dried" Tomatoes)
• 1⁄4-1⁄2 cup olive oil
• 1⁄4 cup fresh basil leaf

Directions

1. Sterilize a one pint jar by washing with soapy water and then pouring boiling water over the inside and outside of the jar. Boil the screw band and lid in hot water.
2. Once the jar is dry begin placing the dried tomatoes into the bottom. Use a clean skewer or spoon to pack the tomatoes together. Then add a couple sprigs of basil. Continue layering tomatoes and basil until the jar is full. Then pour olive oil slowly over the top.
3. Insert the skewer or the handle of the spoon down along the sides of the jar five to six times to force any air pockets out. Make sure the oil completely cover the tomatoes. Seal with the sterilized lid and band and refrigerate up to one month.