Homemade Pizza Sauce

“You have to write down the recipes, exactly, Corey”, said my hubby as he sat at the counter and watched me dump what seemed like a bushel of tomatoes into the sink. “What are you doing with those”, he asked. I told him that I was going to put them into a giant, 8 quart stock pot and flash boil to remove the skins. “Then what?”, he asked. I went on to tell him that I didn’t know what was next. I had just got back from the market with more tomatoes, onions, garlic and peppers than anyone without a canning business should have.

Almost a decade ago, I made this same sauce with my sister. I knew I wrote at least some if it down, somewhere. “Well, maybe it would be better if you stopped what you are doing and go look for it”, he kindly said while ushering me to the spot where I keep millions of papers that I never look at. “Aha, found it”, I said. And, I totally used that recipe and from this time forward I’m writing them ALL down.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

Servings: Approximately 6-7 cups

Ingredients

• 6 pounds whole, ripe tomatoes
• 1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1, 6 ounce can tomato paste
• 6 ounces water (fill the empty tomato paste can)
• 1 tsp grape jelly
• 1 tbsp salt
• 2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 3 tbsp chopped fresh basil

Directions

1. Place the washed, whole tomatoes in sauce pan with 6 ounces of boiling water to remove the skin.
2. Meanwhile, cook the onion and garlic in oil in a 6 quart sauce pan until the they are opaque
3. Using tongs, remove the tomatoes from the water and place into a colander while running cold water over them to remove the skin
4. Gently remove the skin with the tongs, remove seeds and chop the tomatoes
5. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 6 ounces of water, grape jelly, salt and pepper into the sauce pan with the cooked onions and garlic
6. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and leave uncovered to cook for 45-50 minutes
7. Stir in chopped basil and oregano and cook for 3-5 minute more