Salsa! the homemade kind!

This salsa is affectionately known as 'Garnet's Salsa' in our home. He (my brother) gave me the recipe years ago and it quickly became a family favourite and a staple in my refrigerator.

I have another name for it: 'Grown Up Ketchup'. Aside from using it with tacos I like it as a sort of relish that is particularly excellent with fried eggs and/or sausages.

You will have to set aside a whole morning or an afternoon to prepare this. Take your time. Select the best tomatoes you can find. Measure out your spices and other ingredients to have ready as needed.

Turn on some music (or not) and start to chop, chop, chop. Enjoy the process of preparing your ingredients and focus completely on what you are doing. You can turn it into a meditation. A meditation on how you are preparing something for your family and friends that comes from the heart.

Think about setting aside a few jars as hostess gifts - nothing will be more appreciated - I assure you.

Garnet's Salsa

12 large tomatoes - peeled, chopped and drained* see note

2 large onions - chopped

2 large red peppers - seeded and chopped

1 green pepper - seeded and chopped

1 cup celery - chopped

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 1/2 cups cider vinegar or plain vinegar (I use half and half)

1 Tbsp salt

Hot peppers - chopped - to taste (I don't use any)

Garlic cloves - chopped - to taste (I use about three)

Combine and put in a spice bag:

1 Tbsp mustard seed

1 Tsp whole allspice

1 Tsp whole cloves

Sterilize jars and lids.

Peel and dice tomatoes to equal 12 cups. As I chop them I put them in a colander to drain. Combine all ingredients and put in a large pot, put spice bag in.

Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer - stirring occasionally for 1 hour and 45 minutes. If it seems too watery, take the lid off of the pot for the last half hour or so to let some water evaporate, or make a paste of 1 Tbsp cornstarch and 1 Tbsp water and add to the mix. Cook a few minutes longer.

Discard spice bag. Ladle into sterilized jars 1/4 inch from rim. Wipe rims with a clean cloth. Seal with lids that you have let sit in boiling water for one minute. Process in hot water bath about 15 minutes.

NOTE*

To easily peel tomatoes, put them in a bowl and pour boiling water over top. Let sit a minute or two and the skins should pop off very easily. I use rubber gloves to protect my hands from the hot water.

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