ketchup

This is excellent.. also lower in sugar and salt than store bought brands... this is one of the few things that I love so much that I cry when we run out.

3 cups chopped onion
1 tsp cayenne pepper
4 tsp whole cloves
1 8 inch cinnamon stick crushed
1 1/2 tsp whole allspice berries
3 tbsp celery seed
3 cups cider vinegar
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup pickling salt
and.. enough tomatoes to fill a good size roasting pan about 2/3 full. (they say 24 lbs but I'd use less.. more intense flavor)

Combine the tomatoes, onion and cayenne pepper in a large saucepan. (do not use aluminum with tomatoes)
bring it to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes uncovered

Tie the cloves, cinnamon,allspice and celery seed in a large square of cheesecloth, or a spice bag.
Put the vinegar into another pot and put the spice bag into the vinegar. (like making tea) bring it to a boil and let it sit while the tomatoes are simmering.

After 20 minutes discard the spice bag and add the vinegar "tea" to the tomatoes.

Now this is the dangerous part... at this point you want to blender the tomato mixture.. you can NOT do this while it's cold.. and it WILL pop and likely burn you if you're not super duper careful.

Add the sugar and salt and put it all back into the big pot.
Boil it gently until it's the right texture.. it should be about half as much as you started with and mound on a spoon.

This makes about 7 500ml jars.. so not tons.. but sooo tasty..

I dare you to make it...

I thought this was way too much work for ketchup.. really.. after the first time I made it.. until I tasted it. Now I won't go a summer without making it.. it's just WAY too tasty.