Ketchup

I love ketchup, so I decided to try making a healthy one using apples and apple cider vinegar -- no sweetener. It's pretty good, but I think it needs a couple of weeks to mellow. It's not red, like traditional ketchup, but the orange color is pretty. Here's the recipe:

4 apples, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup cider vinegar
1 cup water
1-1/2 tsp. mustard seeds
1-1/2 tsp. allspice berries
1 stick cinnamon broken up
1-1/2 tsp. whole black peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. whole cloves
1 Tbsp. whole coriander seeds
1/4 tsp. celery seeds
1 tsp. salt, or to taste

Tie the spices into a cheesecloth bag, and combine everything in a 4-quart pot. The celery seeds may fall through the cheesecloth -- mine did. If so, just add them to the fruit and vegetables. Bring to a boil, and simmer for an hour or more. Remove the spice bag and discard. Puree the mixture in a blender or Vitamix. If it's not quite thick enough, simmer it uncovered for a while longer until it thickens up. Pack into canning jars and process, or store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks before using. This recipe made a little more than two pints.