Easy quick homemade ketchup

I made this up because I was out of ketchup which my recipe (also below) for this day called for. So I  thought “I’ll bet I could make some”. Googled it, scanned a couple/few recipes; I only had tomato paste in my pantry. I swear I end up saying “make it work” every day! So I did and not only did it taste good on its own but it worked great in recipe.
This recipe is very flexible and can vary according to personal preferences.  Like many recipes use fresh tomatoes  (I didn’t have any) or a mixture of both. Sweetness can really be to your likeness, as with vinegar. Taste as you go, before blending. I was afraid of getting to much vinegar because once you do…you can’t undo it, so I did add another little splash of vinegar. As long as the thickness is right (if you get it too thin allow to cook longer uncovered to reduce) it’s mostly balancing the sweetener & vinegar.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 small can tomato paste w/enough water to make 1 cup
  2 tablespoons light brown sugar (okay, I used more)
  2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  1 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of pepper
• Dash garlic powder
  Dash onion powder
  1-2 teaspoons honey mustard (optional)
  Pinch cayenne if you want spicy ketchup (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS
Put all ingredients into a small saucepan, bring just to low bubbling, stirring occasionally, reduce heat to medium/low and let cook for 10 minutes. Remove from heat allow to cool for 5 minutes, then either use immersion blender, put in a blender or food processor  and process until it is smooth in consistency.
Then use in recipe, put in a container to serve, or put in  refrigerator for storage.

Check it out…

Now, that recipe I needed ketchup for ~

Slow Cooker Sweet Smoky Pulled Chicken 

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Its on back of ‘McCormick Slow Cooker Sweet & Smoky Pulled Chicken’ packet.

Place boneless skinless chicken breasts in bottom of cooker. 3 is enough for 4 of us.

Mix the simple ingredients, pour over chisken, like in video below 😀

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours (approximately, check on it because we have learned our “crockpot” runs HIGH.  Still…it’s been delicious every time.

When tender with fork or a twist with tongs, remove to platter/cutting board, shred with 2 forks and put back in cooker. Stir and serve on favorite buns (toasted), bread, rolls or wraps. Goes great with slaw.  I had a yogurt smoothie so I didn’t need anything else cool & refreshing with mine.

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And it was all about that ketchup

✔

 

ENJOY!