Domesticated Bliss

I'm steeped in the abundance of domesticated bliss going on around our house this weekend.  I swear to you, there's nothing quite so satisfying as planting little tiny seeds in the middle of winter, watching them grow into strong, vibrant seedlings, nurturing them through the spring and then reaping the benefits from their ripened fruit. 

This holiday weekend we didn't go camping but instead stayed home with our tomatoes.  Eating handfuls of Mexican Cherries like candy, picking ripe fruits, remembering those early growth days, eating some more, cooking, blanching, chopping, canning, and yes;  eating homemade spaghetti sauce for dinner.  

Here's our favorite recipe for made~from~scratch Spaghetti Sauce:

1 gallon pail full of tomatoes

2 C. chopped green peppers

2 C. chopped onions

1 T. dried oregano

1 T. dried basil

1 T. minced garlic

1 t. salt

1 t. pepper

1 bay leaf

1 t. vinegar

Prepare your tomatoes according to your favorite method.  

With a few tablespoons of olive oil and a large kettle, cook the peppers, onions, and garlic until tender.  Add your tomatoes and all other ingredients.

Cook for about an hour on medium - high heat.

Preserve according to your favorite method.  

{makes 4 pints}