Hi Irish! Like DigDirt, I prefer the taste of roasted tomatoes for my sauce. I like to do things quick and easy, especially when it comes to preserving because it seems like everything comes on at once and it's hard to keep up. Here's the super-easy way I make roasted tomato sauce, which I freeze for use all winter long. I use Roma (plum) tomatoes for a thicker sauce. No amounts listed in my recipe because it really doesn't matter. I just keep roasting pan-fulls until I've used up the tomatoes. Jane's Roasted Tomato Sauce 1. Core and halve tomatoes (I run my thumb up the hollows quickly to push out most of the gel/seeds) 2. Put tomatoes in a BIG bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil and toss to coat tomatoes. 3. Place tomatoes CUT SIDE DOWN in large rimmed sheet pan, as big as will fit your oven. 4. Roast in a 400 degree oven for 45-60 mins. Tomato skins will begin to shrivel and start to blacken on top, this is good. 5. When sizzley and well-roasted, remove from oven. The tomato skins will be loosened and most of them will slip off the tomato if squeezed lightly with tongs. If you wish to remove skins, go ahead. If not, it's okay too. 6. Place tomatoes in food processor, pulse a few times until thick and chunky consistency (or however you like your sauce). You will probably have to work in batches since the entire pan of tomatoes won't fit in food processor at once. 7. Pour into freezer containers and let cool before placing in freezer. This makes tomato sauce. I like Italian sauce since that's what I mostly use. So at Step #2 I also cut up some bell peppers and onions into big chunks, put them in bowl with tomatoes and oil. Also a few garlic cloves. Sprinkle in salt, pepper, italian spices. Then place in pan and continue in the same way. Easy, can do a lot at once. Can do tomatoes ahead and leave the big oily bowl covered in frig a day or two until you find time to roast. Free time while roasting, versus sauce on the stovetop that you have to keep an eye on. There aren't any finicky rules using this method. (I'm usually not good with finicky rules! LOL ) Enjoy!

This is still my favorite. From Ellie Topp's Small Batch Preserving. CHUNKY BASIL PASTA SAUCE 8 cups coarsely chopped peeled tomatoes -- (about 9-12 tomatoes or 4 lb) 1 cup chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, minced 2/3 cup red wine 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoon pickling salt 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 6-oz can tomato paste Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic, wine, vinegar, basil, parsley, salt, sugar and tomato paste in a very large non-reactive pan. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until mixture reaches desired consistency, stirring frequently. Remove hot jars from canner and ladle sauce into jars to within 1/2 inch of rim Process 35 minutes for pint jars and 40 minutes for quart jars in a BWB. Makes 8 cups. Steve

Hey Nancy -- Made the backwoods flank steak last night and the marinade /sauce is delicious! My DH didn't like the flank part of it as much as he could have -- a little too chewy for him, even sliced thinly against the grain -- so next time I think I'll use the marinade on london broil, which he prefers. I will say I was surprised -- I thought it would be spicier, but the pickapeppa doesn't have as much kick as I anticipated. I think next time I'll add a little tabasco. But I was pleased that the sauce, even after boiling down, wasn't too salty -- I used low-sodium soy sauce which might have helped. Thanks again! And daylilydayzed, I'll definitely try the pickapeppa on some cooked greens... Emily

Same here - never tried. But I would honestly be surprised if they would work just because of patent infringement issues. I fear you'd find just a couple of mm difference the maker includes to prevent interchanging would create some serious leaking issues. However if the inside diameter, the rubber gasket and the lock screw are identical then I don't see why they wouldn't. I'd make sure suppose you could return them if necessary. Dave