Homemade Spaghetti Sauce {from OBB}

UPDATE

  The recipe I've used here from Our Best Bites is not made for canning, but is very similar to the one used here at Pick Your Own (which is made for canning).  If you have any concerns about the food safety of canning this sauce, you can freeze your sauce, or use the exact recipe from Pick Your Own. 

Over Swiss Days weekend a very nice lady was at my father-in-law's booth.  She ended up inviting my in-laws to her farm to pick from her garden.  She had fresh raspberries and tomatoes that were going to waste.  My sister-in-law (who is the canning queen herself) jumped at the opportunity.  I didn't get to go and pick, but my sweet mother-in-law brought home boxes of delicious garden-fresh tomatoes for me.

My favorite way to eat tomatoes from the garden is fresh, but we had so many I knew we wouldn't make it through all of them.  I was trying to decide the best way to use them.  I've canned before, but never tomatoes.  

I decided to try canning spaghetti sauce.  I've been in love with Our Best Bites spaghetti sauce recipe for quite some time now.  It's top-notch!  I used to not mind store-bought spaghetti sauce, but now that I've had this recipe, I can't go back.  It's great with their Italian meatballs, and I use it as my sauce when I grill pizza.  Yummy!!

This took me a few steps, but it was quite enjoyable, actually. I really do love preserving my own food.  And, I had everything I needed for the sauce, so I didn't even have to spend a penny.

First, I needed crushed tomatoes.  I found a great tutorial from Pick Your Own.  I followed the steps and made my own crushed tomatoes.  It took a bit of time, but was really so, so easy!  I didn't process the crushed tomatoes because I was going to process the spaghetti sauce. 

Next, I made the sauce.  Click here for Our Best Bite's recipe. It's amazing!  I have to say it was quite satisfying to pour my own crushed tomatoes into the sauce, instead of ones from a can.  I  even got to use onions from the garden in the sauce.  I've made this sauce before with all store-bought ingredients, and have loved it every time.  I can't wait to taste the difference with the extra bit of home-grown freshness.

After I made the sauce, I followed this tutorial (also from Pick Your Own) to process it.  

I never get tired of seeing all the bottles of preserves lined up.  So rewarding!  And now next time we have spaghetti, lasagna, or pizza I just have to grab a jar from the pantry and I'm ready to go.  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you found a little something worth your time.

Linking up to these parties & Savvy Southern Style.