Homemade Natural Ketchup

I don't know about you, but our family LOVES ketchup.. I do mean that. My kids will eat ketchup with ANYTHING.. Including ketchup.. (not a typo.. my son has a shirt that says "I eat ketchup on my ketchup" and it totally fits). But here is my dilemma..Most ketchup brands have corn syrup.. and high sodium. The "natural" brands don't have corn syrup, still have high sodium, usually extra sugar and are expensive. So I have decided to try and make my own. I am starting first with low sodium organic stewed tomatoes. But later on (once I have more tomatoes coming out of the garden than I know what to do with) I will attempt to make it with them. And I will update here once I do.


Homemade Natural ketchup

2 cans -14.5 oz - organic low sodium stewed tomatoes. Drain only 1 of the cans
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp mustard powder
1 medium organic carrot
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
4 drops liquid stevia extract - optional. Taste before adding as you may not need it.

I am lucky enough to own a Blendtec blender. I LOVE it!! I have also had a vitamix. I like Blendtec better. I burned out Vitamix, multiple times, just making peanut, cashew, walnut or almond butters. I have never burned out a Blendtec.. But maybe the Vitamix blenders just didn't like me.. hmm.. anyway - they are both good blenders, if you own one I recommend using it.. If not, a regular blender should work but you'll probably have to heat the ketchup on the stove-top to gain thickness. You can do that even if you do have a vitamix or blendtec, but I did this all in the blender without aid from Mr. Gas Range.

I put all ingredients into the blender and turned on. I set it for "soup" as I want this to thicken up. Which i hope will occur after heating, and letting the steam escape, like I would on the stove-top.  After the first go, I tasted it.. Very tasty. I had Connor taste it too. He said MMMMMM.. It still needs thickening, so I continued to cycle, then cool. Did this 3 times. Then it looked good. I then had everyone else try it. They like it, but said it doesn't taste like store ketchup... probably as there are no extras in it.. but they liked it so I guess it may pass the test.. I'll see (and update here) once I make some fries for the kids to eat it with..

( I may try mixing it into the leftover store bought ketchup we have, just so they get used to it. It does taste different, better IMO. But kids are finicky creatures, and never like new things. So if I mix it, then maybe they will like it and not know until I have them hooked.. Bawahahahha - yes... 'evil' mom laugh. )