NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Yes I can – pizza sauce

by

Last weekend, it was finally time to try canning for myself. I finally pulled out all my canning supplies and tried it out. It’s classic Kim to have to buy $100 of gadgets before trying something new. I highly doubt ladies in the 19th century had all these handy tools. But, that’s okay. I’m a 21st Century kinda gal.

The first thing I tried was canned pizza sauce, so we could make truly homemade pizza.

I got the recipe from Miss Effie. So it must be good. (And, it is.)

 (I’m thinking of offically naming this week “Miss Effie Week” on the blog. Cause I think she’s the best thing since sliced bread and fresh jam.)

Home-canned Pizza Sauce

courtesy of Miss Effie

Yield: 8 pints (I made half-pints and it only made 9 of them)

10 lbs tomatoes — cored and chopped

3 med onions , peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-½ tsp dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 tsp canning salt
1 tsp black pepper
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp sugar
Place all ingredients into a large pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours — stirring occasionally.  Press through a food mill and discard the seeds.  Cook again over med. high heat until thick, stirring often.  To each pint — add 1 tbsp. of lemon juice.  Fill jars, leaving a ½” head space.  Wipe the sealing surface of the jars, seal with lids.
Process in a boiling water bath for 35 minutes
I purchased tomatoes at the farmer’s market to supplement those in our garden. It was a bit of a lengthy process, as the sauce had to simmer for a few hours. And, I didn’t have a food mill, which I think would have helped. I ended up with more skins and seeds than I’d like in the sauce. (I bought a food mill at Kitchens for the next round of pizza sauce.)
Do you know how hard it is to find a food mill? This is what they look like.
Pretty, huh?
And as an aside, I had to buy this when I was at Kitchens, too. It’s a holder for your recipes. But, it’s plexiglass on the front so it blocks and spillage. I love it. So handy. (Ryan totally rolled his eyes at this purchase, but I don’t really care.) Remember how I said I like to buy gadgets?
So, in closing – It was a learning experience, but I think the sauce turned out well for my first try at canning. We ate it on a homemade onion (from the garden) pizza for supper on Saturday night and we both agreed it was yummy – better than what we normally buy from the store.

On the canning agenda:
Pizza sauce
Pickles
Pickled zucchini
Salsa
Tomatoes
Pepper jam
Pickled yellow peppers

Comments

  1. i’m totally a nut but next summer we should have a canning get together … so fun!

  2. So, I haven’t done any canning because my dad (who used to be an appliance technician) told me that I shouldn’t EVER can on a flat-top stove, or it could crack. But I see that you did, and it looks like it worked just fine!

  3. Oh my, canning things is like my dream project!!!!! Can I be you when I grow up, seriously!?!?! I’m having fun catching up on all your posts that I’ve missed lately. I’m a delinquent blog follower!

  5. I need that cookbook cover. So bad. That’s awesome that you are canning stuff. And I also have to buy $100 worth of supplies, just to try something. And even then, sometimes its months before I finally get around to it!

  6. Yum– nothing like homemade pizza. When I saw your canning agenda, I thought of another one to add or to keep in mind for next year– zucchini salsa. This is similar to the recipe I use (it is very forgiving, so if you’re missing one of the spices it doesn’t greatly affect the recipe). You can adjust the hotness factor by adding jalapenos or banana peppers. It’s more on the sweet side, but so good with tortilla chips. It gets eaten faster than regular tomato salsa at our house!
    http://www.ehow.com/how_5225543_make-canned-zucchini-salsa.html

  7. I love all of the green utensils in the first picture! I wouldn’t know what to do with them, but they would sure look pretty just sitting in my kitchen. Great job!

  9. I was all prepared to make some salsa today to start making a dent in all the tomatoes that are ripening. But then I read this post and I just may have to switch it to pizza sauce because that looks amazing. And maybe get a food mill too because I am right there with you on the gadgets. Looks delicious!

  10. Yum! I just had my first canning experience this month too – strawberry jam. It said it would make 8 jars. It made 3. What’s up with that?! I’m definitely going to have to try pizza sauce. It’s been the husband’s hobby in the past but I’m liking it! I have a similar love for gadgets and a very similar recipe book holder!! 😉

  11. Looks so yummy!! Your experience with canning went much better than mine! Ie. Your apron didn’t catch on fire and the mail lady hopefully didn’t ask if you are pg. 😉

  12. Yum, I’ll have to add that to my list. But I’ll freeze the sauce rather than can it (one I don’t know how and two it seems faster/easier). Oh, and I totally have a cookbook holder, so you’re in good company.
    check your email 😉

  13. What a cool way to can!! When I thinking for canning I think of pickles and jams…lol you opened my eyes to a new way of canning pizza sauce! who would have thought, lol Maybe one of these days when i’m brave I’ll try it too — much healthier then buying store bought pizza sauce!

  14. I’m getting hungry reading this post! Awesome job canning though. I love that you brought out your super cute red scale too 🙂

    Very clever recipe holder too. I just have a regular cookbook stand, but my baking cookbooks have chocolate stains all over them!

  16. Oooh that sounds really good. This week we canned Jam but due to my lazy-ness we didn’t take photos so no blog. BUT have faith this weekend we are making homemade grape wine from those grapes we picked this past weekend.

  17. I have that cookbook holder and it’s awesome. Matt got it for me as a Christmas present a few years back. I might have to try that pizza sauce recipe. My current “recipe” is “heat 1 can of crushed tomatoes. season with whatever spices you feel like”

  18. I need to get one of those cookbook protectors. John cringes everytime I turn a page with a damp or sticky finger. You’d think he actually cooked or something.

    and mannnn, I love pizza.

  19. OK OK ……. tomato sauce it will be! If my tomatoes ever start to ripen!

    Kim — search my blog for the salsa recipe. We made 4 different salsa at market last year and it is really the best.

    Love the food mill!! It is pretty!

    Love you too Jen!!!

  21. I LOVE this post. I was just telling my husband that I need to find a good pizza sauce recipe so that we can start making pizzas instead of buying. I just learned to can too (I’ve made jam & cherry pie filling). I really enjoy it and hope to keep it up. Love your recipe holder because I have a few recipe cards that have splatter. Oh and can I ask what kind of plant that is in the last picture. It looks hearty and I need a hearty plant…no green thumb.