Spaghetti Sauce, Humungo Batch

My Mom and Sister came up with this recipe years ago and we have loved it ever since. It is by far our families favorite spaghetti sauce. Because we like it so much I'm always sure to bottle some each year when the tomatoes are ready to harvest. 

Since I always want to make more than the three quarts the original recipe makes I would always have to double or more the recipe but then found I was having to adjust certain ingredients especially when at least quadrupling the recipe.

So after playing with the recipe a few years in a row and taking lots of notes I think this is my favorite version for making a great big humungo batch that makes about 14 quarts sometimes a little more or less. That's the beauty of homemade.

Note that some years tomatoes are sweeter or juicier than other times don't be afraid to taste before you place the sauce in the bottles and adjust say the salt, Sucanat or vinegar. Also note that I like plenty of fennel and oregano and I'm not afraid to use lots of herbs......I LOVE HERBS! But if you don't love them like I do maybe half the amount and work up from there.

Bottled Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Humungo Batch
6 cups chopped onion
2 cups chopped green bell pepper
10 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup olive oil
16-20 pounds tomatoes, scalded and peeled
48 oz. tomato paste
3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup Sucanat
4 heaping Tablespoons Broth Powder
1/2 cup oregano
2 Tablespoons basil
1/2 cup ground fennel
3 Tablespoons Real Salt
2 teaspoons white pepper
2-5 cups water (optional)

In very large pot (at least 15 quart pot) lightly saute onion, peppers, garlic in olive oil. Take peeled tomatoes and either squish with clean hands or chop with a knife. Add them and the rest of the ingredients to the pot. Depending on the type of tomatoes you use and how juicy they are will depend on how much water if any you want to add. When I use Roma Tomatoes I will use a cup or two of water because Roma's don't have as much juice. You can also cook it down if you think it is too thin to be spaghetti sauce.

Once sauce is simmering and at the thickness you want. Place sauce into clean hot canning jars (I just run mine through the dishwasher with heat dry so they are good and hot.) Clean rim and put lids and rings on tight. Water bath can for boiling 30-40 minutes depending on your elevation. Makes about 14 quarts.

My all time favorite food dehydrator is on sale!
When I still have tomatoes that need using I love to slice up a batch a put them in the dehydrator. Voila simple "sun"dried tomatoes. Great for soups or raw sauces or thickening sauces or many things I haven't yet thought of. ;)