Homemade Tomato Paste

Total Time: 4 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 8 quarts roma tomatoes, about 4 dozen (or other meaty tomatoes)
• 1 1/2 cups sweet red peppers, chopped (about 3)
• 1 cup chopped onion (optional)
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano (optional)
• 1 -2 tablespoon honey (optional-if you want it a little sweeter)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

Recipe

• 1 wash and trim tomatoes. blanch and remove skin if desired, or press through sieve when done cooking.
• 2 combine tomatoes, red peppers,onions, bay leaves, basil,oregano, honey, if using, and salt in a large stockpot and cook slowly for about 1 hour.
• 3 press through a fine sieve. add garlic, and continue cooking slowly until thick enough to keep its shape on a spoon, about 2 1/2 hours. stir frequently to keep from sticking.(this could be done in a crockpot-just stir and keep an eye on it).
• 4 pour through sieve(if you left the skins on), then pour into hot 1/2 pint canning jars, leaving 1/2" headspace.
• 5 process 1/2 pints 45 minutes in a boiling water bath.
• 6 makes about 9 1/2 pint jars.