How to Make Your Own Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is an easy way to use up a bunch of tomatoes and to ensure that you are using as much of the tomato as possible!

This tomato sauce is perfect for dishes such as goulash, chili, spaghetti, or any soup recipe that calls for tomato sauce! Believe me when I say, you can TASTE the difference between this and store bought.

For this recipe, you'll need:

• tomatoes

• lemon juice

• salt

• dried herbs of choice (we typically use an Italian seasoning)

Directions:

Core all tomatoes and remove any bad spots. Add several at a time to a large stock pot. Use a potato masher to crush them, releasing all the juice and bring them to a boil, continuing to add tomatoes as you go. Once all tomatoes are in the pot, ensure they're at a boil, and continue to boil for 10 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Using a sieve or fine strainer, press the tomatoes in batches to remove seeds and skins. Discard the skins and seeds.

Add the tomatoes back into the saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Stirring frequently, reduce to medium high heat and allow the tomato mixture to boil until it is reduced by 1/3 for thin sauce, or 1/2 for a thicker sauce.

Using hot, sanitized pint or quart jars, add the following:

Pint:

1 T lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dried herbs

Quart:

2 T lemon juice

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dried herbs

Pour tomato sauce into each jar, leaving 1/2 in headspace. Place sanitized lids on jar and secure with rings. Process jars in a water bath 35 minutes for pints, 40 minutes for quarts.