I have done this for years but in the last 3 I went to the local farmers market and bought tomatoes. The last 3 years our garden was a bust because of too much rain 2 years ago(115") or last year the blight hit a few days before harvest. I can buy tomatoes cheaper than I can buy plants to start with.
Yesterday I bought 2 boxes(25# each), a half box of red and green bell peppers, 5# of onions and 6 garlic bulbs. These things along with extra virgin olive oil, fresh ground black pepper, salt, bay leaves, Greek oregano and a little bit of granular sugar(to reduce acid).
Here are a few pics. one of the boxes...
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/DSC00238_zpsh4v7ktfd.jpg)
The first thing I do is drop the tomatoes into boiling water for a few minutes to loosen the skins...
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/DSC00242_zpstmioppj2.jpg)
...then into cold water to stop the cooking...
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/DSC00243_zpsj5fq5y1s.jpg)
...remove the skins and cut up while sauteing the other vegetables...
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/DSC00241_zps7t0yjmla.jpg)
...add the prepped tomatoes...
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/DSC00244_zpslclf5btf.jpg)
...and start the long slow cooking...
![](http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y199/PatBNC/DSC00246_zps40ci3rdp.jpg)