| Every year we plant a large garden which always | | | | 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped |
| includes a few rows of tomatoes. We enjoy | | | | 25 large fresh tomatoes |
| canning our own homemade tomato sauce to use | | | | 2 teaspoons table salt |
| throughout the winter and spring season when | | | | 2 teaspoons black pepper |
| tomatoes are no longer in-season here in | | | | 2 teaspoons granulated sugar |
| Pennsylvania. | | | | 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon beef bouillon |
| Canning your own sauce is not difficult and you | | | | Measure out and add your olive oil to a large |
| will need your basic home canning supplies such as: | | | | nonstick stock pot. Over medium heat, stir in the |
| a water bath canner, quart-sized canning jars with | | | | minced onions and garlic and saute them in the oil |
| rings and seals, funnel, ladle and a jar lifter. If you | | | | for 1 minute. Stir in the chopped basil and chopped |
| don't own these supplies, you can purchase them | | | | parsley. Turn heat down to low. |
| in a complete kit at your local kitchen shop or via | | | | Blanch and remove the skins from your tomatoes |
| a reputable online kitchen store that carries home | | | | and process them in a juicer or food processor to |
| canning supplies. | | | | make tomato juice. Add this juice to your stock |
| In the following recipe, I used fresh basil and | | | | pot and then add in the rest of the ingredients, |
| parsley that I grew in my garden, however...you | | | | stirring after each addition with a nonstick silicone |
| can certainly use dried herbs if that is what you | | | | spatula. |
| have on hand. You will want to start out with ripe | | | | Turn the heat up to medium and cover your pot. |
| to very ripe (but not blemished) red tomatoes. | | | | Simmer the mixture for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, stirring |
| To Blanch Tomatoes: Bring a large stock pot with | | | | every 10 to 15 minutes. |
| water to a full boil. Place a few tomatoes into the | | | | Once sauce is done cooking, ladle it into clean and |
| water for 60 seconds. Using a pair of tongs or | | | | hot jars, being careful to leave a 1/2" head space |
| your ladle, remove tomatoes and place in cold | | | | from the top of the jar. Using a clean cotton |
| water for 5 minutes. You should now be able to | | | | towel, wipe the rim clean and add your seal and |
| easily peel off the skins. | | | | ring to the jar. Process your jars all at one time in |
| Basil Tomato Sauce Recipe | | | | your water bath canner for 45 minutes. Remove |
| 3 tablespoons olive oil | | | | jars from the canner and let cool to room |
| 3 onions, minced | | | | temperature. This sauce will keep for up to 1 |
| 3 garlic cloves, minced | | | | year if your jars sealed properly. |
| 3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped | | | | |