Fog City Diner Ketchup

Homemade ketchup is a favorite of patrons of Fog City Diner. The popular restaurant has graciously shared their recipe so you can make your own at home. The ketchup

may be stored in the refrigerator up to 1 month.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:

* 4 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped
* 1-1/2 cups sugar
* 1 cup cider vinegar
* 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1-1/2 teaspoons mixed pickling spice
* 1 small stick cinnamon, about 1/4-inch long
* 1-1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
* 1/2 teaspoon (scant) freshly ground pepper
* 2 Tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 cup cold water
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preparation:
Combine the tomatoes, sugar, vinegar, garlic, salt, pickling spice, cinnamon, dry mustard, and pepper in a large, heavy stainless steel or enameled saucepan. Bring

the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat and simmer the ketchup, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the

ketchup from the heat and let it cool a few minutes.

Force the ketchup through a fine sieve to strain it, pressing down hard on the solids. Rinse out the saucepan and return the ketchup to a boil over medium heat,

stirring frequently. Reduce the heat and simmer the ketchup, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes. (Even if the ketchup seems thin, do not cook it any longer, as the

thickening power of the cornstarch lessens with prolonged cooking. The ketchup will thicken a bit more upon cooling.) Remove the ketchup from the heat and let it

cool to room temperature. Store the tomato ketchup, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a month.

Yield: about 5 cups

Source: Fog City Diner, San Francisco, California, USAman Publishing)