a la mama

I just got this awesome recipe from Tami at Peas of Mind, a company that makes healthy frozen vegetable fries, among other things.

When I was growing up, it was a big joke that ketchup was considered a vegetable by the Reagan administration. However, this ketchup recipe is indeed made up of vegetables, along with seasonings. My kids go through a ton of it, which makes me feel better about forgetting to stick something green on their plates now and then.

Rustic Homemade Ketchup

½ a large onion, red or white, diced, about 1 cup

1 teaspoons olive oil

½ teaspoons salt

2 lbs tomatoes, preferably Roma, chopped (about 5.5 cups), 10-12 count

Small pinch of ground cloves

Pinch of black pepper

2 tablespoons tomato paste

4 teaspoons brown sugar

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

In a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat, sauté the onion with the oil and ¼ teaspoon of the salt until the onion becomes soft, translucent and is just starting to brown, 8-10 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cloves, black pepper and remaining ¼ teaspoon of salt and stir to combine. Turn the heat up to high, cover and bring to a boil.

Once it’s boiling, remove the lid and boil the mixture on medium-high for 12-15 minutes, stirring about once per minute to avoid scorching. The mixture should have lost a good bit of moisture and become sticky on the surface of the pan. If not, continue cooking.

When the liquid has reduced and the mixture is sticky, turn off the heat. Add the tomato paste, brown sugar and vinegar and stir thoroughly to combine. If using whole cloves, fish them out.

Puree in a food processor or blender for at least 2 minutes and you have ketchup!

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to seven days or freeze.

what are your favorite recipes?

I had a mad craving and ran over to the Chocolatesmith, the Mothering office’s nearest and dearest den of vice: www.chocolatesmith.com. Yes, them. They are our Second Street Studios neighbors. I totally gobbled up a dark chocolate-covered peanut butter mini bar…which reminds me of last year, when I bought a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups as Halloween giveaway candy…because I didn’t like them and wouldn’t eat any. Well, guess what? I put them in the freezer to keep them fresh-ish, and one PMSy night I ate one. Well, I realized I liked frozen peanut butter cups…and so here I am, celebrating that anniversary of sorts. 

Yesterday I bought a bag of mini Snickers, because they totally gag me. I mean, no doubt. And I am not even going to try them. Just in case. 

Hey, if you are wondering about my other favorite organic chocolate source, it’s Sjaaks. I love their wee chocolate-covered peanut butter bites…and so did the entire Mothering office! The ones who aren’t into the PB thing dug the orange-flavored dark chocolate.