TOMATO RECIPES TO PRESERVE THE GOODNESS OF AN ABUNDANT HARVEST

Big Batch Spaghetti Sauce

1/4 Cup olive oil
3 medium onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 28 oz. Cans whole tomatoes
2 28 oz. Cans crushed tomatoes
3 12 oz. cans tomato paste

3 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried black pepper


Heat oil in large pan. Saute onions and garlic until tender. Add rest of ingredients. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, partially covered, for 2 hours. Stir occasionally. After it has simmered, cool completely and store in freezer bags or containers in increments that you find best for your family. When ready to use, thaw and heat. Favorite ingredients can be added like sliced mushrooms, cooked/drained sausage, hamburger, etc. This sauce is great for any Italian dish. We use it as a sauce for several types of pasta and as a pizza sauce.

Fresh tomatoes may be substituted for large cans. You will still need to include the tomato paste. Peel, core, and chop enough tomatoes to make approximately 12 cups. The rest of the recipe remains the same.

Kathie Cocklin, '98


TOMATO CONSERVE

18 cups tomatoes, cut in chunks
3 teaspoons ginger
6 cups sugar
3 lemons (thinly sliced)

Cook tomatoes 45 minutes. Add sugar, lemon, and ginger. Cook until thick and smooth. Pour into sterilized jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Process in Boiling Water Bath 10 minutes. Yield: 8 eight oz. jars.


TOMATO MARMALADE

3 quarts tomatoes (12 cups, after cutting)
2 oranges
2 lemons
10 cups sugar
2 tablespoons whole cloves
6 tablespoons broken cinnamon stick

REMOVE peel from tomatoes and cut in small pieces. Slice oranges and lemons very thin and quarter the slices. Pour off juice from the tomatoes. Add sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add oranges, lemons, and spices which have been ties loosely in cheesecloth bag. Place mixture over high heat and boil rapidly, stirring often. Cook until clear and thick (about 50 minutes). Pour into sterilized jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Process in Boiling Water Bath 10 minutes. Yield: 8 eight oz. jars.


GREEN TOMATO SWEET PICKLES

1 gallon green tomatoes (16 cups sliced)
1/4 cup salt
1/2 tablespoon powdered alum
3 cups vinegar (5% acidity)
1 cup water
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon mixed spices
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon mustard seed

SLICE tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and allow to stand overnight. Next morning drain and pour 2 quarts of boiling water with 1/2 tablespoon of powdered alum over the tomatoes and let stand 20 minutes. Drain and cover with cold water, drain. Combine vinegar, water, sugar and spices (tie spices loosely in bag) and bring to a boil. Pour this over the tomatoes. Let stand in this solution overnight. Then drain and bring solution to boil and pour over tomatoes. Let stand overnight. On the third morning bring the pickles and solution to a boil. Pack into sterilized jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Process in boiling water bath 10 minutes. Yield: 8 pints.


GREEN TOMATO DILL PICKLES - KOSHER STYLE

Green tomatoes
Stalk celery
Sweet green peppers
Garlic
2 quarts water
1 quart vinegar
1 cup salt
Dill

USE small, firm green tomatoes. Pack into sterilized jars. Add to each quart jar a bud of garlic, 1 stalk of celery and 1 green pepper cut in fourths. Make a brine of the water, vinegar and salt. Boil with the dill for 5 minutes. Pour the hot brine over the pickles to within 1/2 inch of top of the jar. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Process in Boiling Water Bath 15 minutes. These will be ready for use in 4-6 weeks. This amount of liquid fills 6 quarts.


TOMATO CATSUP

1 peck (12 1/2 pounds) ripe tomatoes
2 medium onions
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 cups cider vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons broken stick cinnamon
1 tablespoon whole cloves
3 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 tablespoon paprika
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt

WASH and slice tomatoes and boil until soft. Into another kettle slice the onions. Cover with a small quantity of water and cook until tender. Run the cooked onions and tomatoes through a sieve. Mix the onion and tomato pulp. Add the cayenne pepper. Boil this mixture rapidly until it has been reduced to about 1/2 original volume.

Place vinegar in an enamel pan; add a spice bag containing the cinnamon, cloves and garlic. Allow this to simmer for about 30 minutes, then bring to boil. Place cover on pan and remove from heat. Allow this to stand in covered pan until ready to use.

When tomato mixture has cooked down to 1/2 original volume, add mixture, of which there should be 1 and 1/4 cups. Add the paprika, sugar and salt and boil rapidly until thick. This should require about 10 minutes. Pour while boiling into sterilized jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Process in Boiling Water Bath 5 minutes. Yield: 6 pints.


TOMATO PUREE

1 onion
3 stalks celery
3 sweet peppers
12 cups tomatoes (quartered)

SIMMER all ingredients until soft. Press through sieve, season with salt and pepper. Fill jars to within 1/2 inch of top. Put on cap, screw band firmly tight. Yield: 4 pints. Process in Boiling Water Bath 45 minutes.


TOMATO SAUCE

18 Tomatoes
2 green peppers
2 medium onions
3 tablespoons artificial sweetener, or to taste
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon allspice
2 cups vinegar

PEEL, core, and chop tomatoes. Chop peppers and onions fine. Combine all ingredients. Boil slowly 4 hours or until thick. Fill boiling hot to within 1/2 inch of top of jar. Process 10 minutes in Boiling Water Bath.


CAROLYN PARSONS' HOMEMADE LASAGNA

2/3 pound lean ground beef
1 tablespoon butter
2 onions or 1 large onion
1 pound (approximately) of tomatoes -- slice & crush
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 beef bouillon cube
a dash of garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
salt and pepper to taste
10-12 uncooked lasagna noodles
SAUCE
1 tablespoon butter
3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
2 cups of milk
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste

PREPARATION:

1. Saute' ground beef in a skillet in butter until it loses its pink color. Transfer to a pot.

2. Peel and chop onions. Saute' until transparent. Add to meat. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, bouillon cube, minced garlic and seasonings. Cook over medium low heat, covered, for about 20 minutes.

3. For sauce, melt butter in a sauce-pan. Add flour. Stir to combine. Add milk, stirring. Cook for 3 minutes until thickened. Add most of the cheese. Let melt. Season to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

4. Pour half the sauce in bottom of an oven-proof casserole. Cover with lasagna noodles. Layer with meat sauce and lasagna noodles. Pour remaining sauce over top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake at 400 degrees F. for about 20 minutes.

TIP: Substitute ground chicken for half of ground meat to make the lasagna leaner.


MARINARA SAUCE

A light, fresh-tasting sauce with quintessential tomato flavor. Worth stocking up on when tomatoes are dead-ripe and abundant.

(Makes 3 pints)

6 pounds ripe Italian-type tomatoes
1 cup very finely minced onion
1/2 cup very finely minced celery
1 cup very finely minced carrots
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar

Ground white pepper to taste.
Optional seasoning (any one of the following): 2 teaspoons ground coriander; 1/2 to 1 teaspoon dried marjoram; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 to 2 teaspoons salt, to taste

1. Drop the tomatoes into boiling water, a few at a time. Let the water return to a boil, then remove the tomatoes and drain. Peel and chop.

2. In a large saucepan, cook the onion, celery, and carrots in the olive oil, covered, over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes, stirring a few times. Uncover and stir, over the heat, for 5 to 10 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are very soft and lightly gold.

3. Add the tomatoes, sugar, and pepper and simmer gently, covered, for 15 minutes.

4. Puree the sauce through the medium disc of food mill. Add the optional seasoning and cook at a bare simmer until a desirable consistency is reached, about 20 minutes, stirring often. Add salt to taste.

5. If you prefer a smooth sauce, work the sauce through the fine disc of a food mill.

6. Cool the sauce and refrigerate it. It will keep, refrigerated, for about a week, or for several months if frozen.


TOMATO COCKTAIL (Bloody Mary Base)

Served straight and iced, or spiked with vodka to make a Bloody Mary, this spicy brew has the freshness of good vegetables and none of the strong flavoring additives found in many canned or bottled cocktail bases.

(Makes about 1 quart of juice from each 2 quarts of whole tomatoes)

Fully ripped Italian-type plum or pear tomatoes, without spoiled spots or bruises

For each 2 quarts of whole tomatoes:

1/2 medium red or green sweet pepper, chopped
1/2 small onion, peeled and chopped
1/2 clove garlic, peeled and sliced
1/2 to 1 rib celery (depending on size), with leaves, chopped
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
1 small dried hot red pepper (about 1 1/2 inches long) or a 1/2-inch slice fresh hot pepper (use more if you like "hotter" juice, or add bottled hot pepper sauce to the finished juice, as described in the directions)
1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds or 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 bay leaf
2 or 3 small sprigs parsley
3 or 4 fresh basil leaves or 1/4 teaspoon crumbled dried basil
1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
Optional: 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 or 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Strained fresh lemon or lime juice to taste (see note below)

1. Wash the tomatoes well. Cut away any green or yellow parts and remove white or green cores. Quarter the tomatoes and measure them into a stainless-steel or enameled kettle; each 2 quarts of whole tomatoes should yield about 5 cups, cut up.

2. Add to the tomatoes the sweet pepper, onion, garlic, celery, peppercorns, hot pepper (if used), coriander, bay leaf, parsley, basil, and mustard seeds. Bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft.

3. Force the vegetables through the finest disc of a food mill. Sieve the juice if it isn't smooth enough, or if any seeds have passed into it. If the juice seems too thin, let it settle, then skim off and discard the thin liquid on top.

4. Taste the juice for seasoning and add sugar, salt, pepper sauce (if you are including it), and strained lemon or lime juice to taste.

5. Return the juice to the rinsed-out kettle and bring it to a boil, then ladle it into clean, hot canning bars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Wipe the rims, put on two-piece lids, and fasten the screw bands.

6. Set the jars on a rack in a deep kettle half filled with boiling water. Add boiling water to cover the jars by at least 2 inches. Bring to a boil, cover, and boil hard (process) for 15 minutes for quarts, 10 minutes for pints.

7. Remove the jars from the boiling-water bath and cool.

Note: Because you want highly seasoned cocktail juice, you'll undoubtedly add enough lemon or lime juice to ensure that the juice is acid enough to be canned safely in a boiling-water bath.

A Note On Canning Safety: Tomatoes, because of their acid content, have in past years been considered safe to can in a boiling-water bath. However, in recent years hybridizers have developed "sub-acid" varieties that may be on the borderline of acid content where the safe canning of tomatoes or their juice is concerned. to be on the safe side, taste the juice before canning it. If it lacks tartness, be sure to add enough lemon juice to re-create the characteristic pleasant tomato sharpness.


TOMATO SOUP

14 quarts ripe tomatoes 14 tablespoons flour
7 medium-sized onions 14 tablespoons butter
1 stalk celery 3 tablespoons salt
14 sprigs parsley 8 tablespoons sugar
3 bay leaves 2 teaspoons pepper

WASH; cut up tomatoes. Chop onions, celery, parsley, bay leaves. Add to tomatoes; cook until celery is tender. Put through sieve. Rub flour and butter into smooth paste thinned with tomato juice. Add to boiling soup; stir to prevent scorching. Add salt, sugar and pepper. For smoother consistency put through sieve again. Fill clean jars to within one inch of top of jar. Put on cap, screwing the band firmly tight. Process in water bath 15 minutes.


Jalapeño Sauce
Submitted by Ms. Beverly Tippett of Timpson:

5-6 hot jalapeño peppers (9-12 TAM mild)
1 gallon tomato, peeled
3 onions
4 bell peppers
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup canning salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 cup white vinegar

(Makes: 11-12 pints)

Peel and cut up tomatoes. To peel tomatoes drop into boiling water, leave for 1 1/2 or 2 minutes, put into ice water. Chop other ingredients in food processor or by hand. Combine all ingredients and bring to boil. Simmer for 1 1/2-2 hours. Pour into jars, then seal.


CHILI SAUCE
Submitted by Ms. Gladys Freudenberg,1441 Robin Lane, Seguin, Texas

3 quarts chopped tomatoes
* 1 cup hot peppers (without seeds)
measure, then chop fine
4 bell peppers, chopped
1 1/2 large onions, chopped
7-8 garlic cloves
2 Tablespoon salt
1/2 Tablespoon black pepper
*1/2 Tablespoon red pepper
1 Tablespoon sugar
2 Tablespoon oil
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 Tablespoon cumin powder
1 Teaspoon paprika
1 Teaspoon chili powder

Mix all together and cook (simmer) until the desired thickness is reached (25-30 minutes). * adjust to taste.


GRANDAD LOVES FRIED TOMATO FRITTERS
Submitted by Ralph Dixon Lowe, Rt 5, Box 46A, Georgetown, TX 78626

10 to 12 small Porter (golfball-size) tomatoes (green or ripe)
which have been cubed or chunked into bite-size.
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder or onion flakes (optional)
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup crushed cornflakes
1 Tablespoon crumbled crisp bacon
1/3 cup butter or corn oil

Mix well your cut tomatoes, flour, cornflakes, salt, pepper, sugar, vinegar, (onion/garlic), crumbled bacon, (butter or corn oil). Then take heaped tablespoons full of mixture. Place into palm of hand to shape into rounds about 1/2 inch thickness. Place into medium preheated non-stick coated skillet. Cook until desired golden brown. Turn only once. Will serve 4 persons.

Serve hot as sidedish, or with honey or molasses.


TOMATO ONION RELISH "HOT STUFF" originally made by Grandmother Parsons (Miss Allie) also called "Maw Maw".

6 - 8 medium size ripe tomatoes, peeled and cut into 1/8's or 1/4's
3 - 4 large yellow or white onions, peeled and sliced cross-ways thin (1/8 inch not too thin)

MIX TOGETHER IN CUP AND STIR
1/3 or 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/3 or 3/4 cup hot water 3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
Peel tomatoes and cut into "quarter size" pieces. Peel onions and cut cross ways into thin slices. add to tomatoes. Also add vinegar mixture. Start cooking and continue over medium heat. Stir as it heats to break up onion slices and to keep from sticking to pan. As it heats, add salt and pepper and stir easily. You can taste the juice and if you want it hotter with pepper, add some. Be careful of red pepper. Cook until onions seem tender, turn yellowish. Don't over-cook -- about 30-35 minutes. As soon as it cools some, put in glass jars. Seal and keep in refrigerator.


SWEET TOMATO RELISH made by Warren Shropshire's Great Grandmother (Ollie Mae Rainwater) who was one-half Cherokee Indian from Dandridge, Tennessee. She was also called "Maw Maw" as was the Parsons' Grandmother

40 ounces tomatoes (canned or fresh)
3 onions (chopped)
3 or 4 sliced sweet peppers
2 small hot peppers
2 cups sugar
1 cup of vinegar
cloves and stick cinammon
1 teaspoon of salt
cook until desired thickness


RIPE TOMATO RELISH
24 ripe tomatoes (peeled and chopped)
6 sweet peppers -- chopped
6 hot peppers -- chopped
8 onions --- chopped
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 pint vinegar
3 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons celery salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves

Combine, cook, stir often until thick (4-5 hours), put in sterile jars and seal


LILY MAE'S PEAR RELISH
Chop before measuring:
10 1/2 cups chopped pear
1 1/2 cups of bell pepper
3 cups of onions
6 small hot, red peppers
Add together 3 cups sugar, 2 cups white vinegar, 1 tablespoon celery seed, 2 tablespoon prepared mustard, 2 teaspoon salt

Boil then add pear mixture

Cook 30 minutes


CHILI SAUCE

12 large tomatoes (peeled)
3 large sweet peppers
3 large onions
6 small hot peppers
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of vinegar
1 teaspoon cloves ground -- some salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 teaspoon allspice

-- boil tomatoes awhile
-- add peppers and onions chopped fine
-- add vinegar and sugar
-- cook slowly
-- add spices and simmer till thick (4-5 hours)


MISS LONG'S PEAR RELISH

This recipe is very old and comes from a friend in Titus County.
12 large pears, peeled, cut into pieces and ground
6 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
6 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
6 large onions, chopped
2 cups sugar
1 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons salt

Mix all the ingredients together in a big pot and cook them until the mixture is thick (about 1 hour). Stir frequently.

Ladle the relish into hot, sterilized pint jars, cover, and process in a boiling bath for 15 minutes.


CORN RELISH
This recipe makes use of corn that was perhaps a little tough or otherwise not as fit for boiling and eating right off the cob.

5 cups corn, freshly cut from the cob and drained
5 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 cup cucumber, unpeeled and chopped
1-1/2 cups onion, chopped
1 cup green pepper, chopped
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup cider vinegar
1 teaspoon mustard seed
1 teaspoon salt

Mix all the ingredients in a large pot and bring them to a hard boil. Remove the pot from the heat immediately.

Ladle the relish into hot, sterilized pint jars, cover, and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.


RIPE TOMATO RELISH

All of these relishes go best with beans or peas, but they're good enough to eat with anything.

1 peck of ripe tomatoes, blanched, peeled, and chopped (about 40 to 45 tomatoes)
8 onions, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
2 cups sugar
2 cups vinegar
3 green bell peppers, cored and chopped
3 red bell peppers, cored and chopped

Mix all the ingredients together in a large pot, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until thick (about 3 hours).

Pour the relish into hot, sterilized pint jars, cover, and process in a boiling bath for 15 minutes.


RAW TOMATO RELISH
When it's just too hot to cook, you can still put up a tomato relish using this recipe.

8 pounds ripe tomatoes, blanched, peeled, and chopped (about 25-30 tomatoes)
3 medium onions, chopped
1 small red hot pepper, chopped
6 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons mustard seed
1/2 tablespoon celery seed
1/2 cup salt
2-1/2 cups vinegar

Combine the chopped vegetables in a big bowl, sprinkle them with the 1/2 cup salt, and stir. Let the mixture stand for 2 hours. Then pour it into a jelly bag and let it drain overnight or until the mixture is entirely dry.

When the vegetables have drained dry, mix the sugar, vinegar, and spices in a pot and heat them until dissolved, stirring occasionally. Pour this liquid over the drained vegetables, stir, and ladle the relish into hot, sterilized pint jars. Cover and process in a boiling bath for 15 minutes.*

*We suggest pressure canning tomato relishes at 10 pounds pressure for 10 minutes.


CHOW CHOW
A good way to use green tomatoes, this chow chow is a spicy and hot accompaniment to beans and peas.

1 quart green tomatoes, chopped (about 6 to 8 tomatoes)
2 sweet green peppers, chopped
2 large mild onions, chopped
1 small head cabbage, chopped
1/2 cup salt
3 cups vinegar
2-1/2 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons celery seed

Grind the chopped vegetables. Add the salt to them, and let the mixture stand overnight.

Drain the vegetable mixture in a jelly bag, pressing out all the liquid you can. Transfer the vegetables to a large pot. Add the vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, tumeric, and celery seed and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for one hour. Stir frequently.

Pour the relish into hot, sterilized pint jars, cover, process 15 minutes in a boiling bath.


PICCALILLI
Most piccalillis are made with cucumbers, but East Texans cleverly adapted this recipe to meet their own needs. This is a sweeter relish than some.

4 quarts green tomatoes, finely chopped (about 20-25 tomatoes)
1/2 head cabbage, finely chopped
1/2 cup pickling salt
enough water to cover the vegetables
1 quart cider vinegar (4 cups)
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon mustard seed
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon red pepper
1/2 tablespoon allspice
1 tablespoon ginger

Combine the vegetables and salt; cover with water, and soak overnight. Drain and rinse the vegetables.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a large pot and bring them to a boil; add the drained vegetables and return the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender (about 30 minutes).

Pack the hot mixture into hot, sterilized pint jars. Cover, and process in a boiling bath for 15 minutes.