From Garden to Sauce: Homemade Tomato Sauce (and Pizza!) – Double It & Deliver!

Remember those days of frantically searching for a weeknight dinner solution? Between school drop-offs, after-school activities, and just…life, it felt like there were never enough hours in the day. What if I told you that the work you're already doing – that simmering pot of deliciousness – could earn you a little extra each night?

My friend Anthony (check him out – link below!) recently shared a fantastic video showing how to turn homegrown tomatoes into vibrant tomato sauce, and then take it a step further into incredible pizza sauce. And he’s got a smart point: most of us are already cooking dinner for our families. Why not make a double (or triple!) batch and share the love – and a little extra income – with another mom across town?

Imagine: another mom, juggling the same chaos, gets a hot, homemade dinner delivered right to her door. You get a little extra cash, and she gets a break. It's a win-win!

Let’s be real, planting enough tomatoes for a decent-sized sauce batch takes a bit of commitment. Anthony recommends at least four to five plants – a blend of varieties like Martino's Aroma and Principe (pronounced, apparently, with a flourish!) – to ensure you have enough to work with. Picking them a little early also helps avoid pest problems.

But once you’ve harvested your bounty, the process is surprisingly straightforward. Anthony walks you through every step, and I’ve broken it down here too.

Homemade Tomato Sauce & Pizza Sauce Recipe

Yields: Approximately 2-3 pints (double or triple the recipe for extra to share!)

Ingredients:

• 7.5 lbs ripe tomatoes (or more, depending on how much you want to make!)
• Frozen tomatoes (optional, for larger batches)
• Water (a little, to prevent scorching)

Equipment:

• Large stockpot
• Food mill (highly recommended – saves peeling time!)

1. Prep the Tomatoes: Rinse the tomatoes thoroughly.
2. Simmer: Place the tomatoes in a large stockpot with a little water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Assist (Optional): As the tomatoes burst, you can gently mash them with a spoon.
4. Mill It: Once the tomatoes have softened and released their juices, run them through a food mill to remove skins, seeds, and cores.
5. Pizza Sauce (Optional): For pizza sauce, continue cooking the sauce until it thickens to your desired consistency. Season with salt, pepper, and any other desired spices (garlic powder, oregano, basil are great choices!).

Tips & Tricks:

• Freezing: If you end up with more tomatoes than you can use, freeze them for later!
• Batch Cooking: This sauce freezes beautifully. Portion it out into freezer bags or containers for easy meal prep.
• Double the Recipe: Seriously, do it! Make enough for your family and another family tonight.
• Delivery: List your extra sauce on CrownRunner – a fellow mom across town is likely dreaming of a hot, homemade meal!

Extras to Sell:

• Extra pint of tomato sauce: $10–$15
• Extra pint of pizza sauce: $12–$18
• Double batch of sauce (tomato or pizza): $20–$30

Seriously, think about it. A little extra effort on your part can make a huge difference for another family and put some extra money in your pocket. You could be a Dinner Angel!

Ready to get started? Claim your Chef profile and start listing your delicious creations. Or, find a meal near you and let someone else do the cooking tonight!

Happy cooking!