Seasoned Tomato Sauce

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients

• 12 cups chopped ripe tomatoes
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano (or 1 tsp dried)
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, oregano, sugar, pepper & bay leaves in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan.
• 2 bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat & boil gently, uncovered, until very thick, about 1 1/2 hours; stir frequently.
• 3 press through a food mill or coarse sieve to remove skins & seeds; add lemon juice & salt.
• 4 remove hot jars from the canning kettle & ladle sauce into jars leaving 1/2 inch of head space; remove any trapped air bubbles, readjust the head space, wipe rims & apply lids until finger tight.
• 5 transfer jars to the canner & set timer for 35 minutes when the water returns to a boil.