My natural gas bill went up $25 this August or approximately 40 cents a jar.  Canning sauce is a skill to know and a process that includes both tangible and intangible benefits that make it a worthwhile endeavor.  However, I see why so many gardeners skip the canning step and simply make and freeze their sauce rather than add the effort and expense of putting it up in ball jars.  You can also add a whole mix of other garden goodies like onion, carrot, eggplant and squash without having to worry about the acidity within the jars if you plan to freeze.  Or just rely on our current mass production market and buy a 12 pack of 15oz cans of “certified organic” tomato sauce from Costco for under $10 but what would the fun be in that.

Mixed Tomatoes from Garden

Cooking Simple Tomato Sauce

Jarring the Sauce before the final boil.

Boiling the Sauce in Sterilized Jars – 45 mins

Tomato and Tomatillo Sauce in Ball Jars