If you were to ask me where this idea came from, I would have to say, "From my dreams." I really don't know. I have made it maybe three times over several years. I just made it again and I adore it. It is not particularly labor intensive - figure 45 minutes from start to finish. A good deal of that time is getting a big pot of water to boil.
Don't be put off by the xanthan gum. It is a natural product which you will find in many things, including hot sauce and ice cream.
The "Xanadu" appelation just is whimsy on my part. You can use this sauce for anything that a regular tomato sauce would serve. But you can also use it like catsup, although it's thinner than that. It's delicious and a fun thing to do on that day off from the office.
Tomatoes Xanadu
10 Roma tomatoes
4 medium cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
2 or 3 oz canned beet
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp xanthan gum
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut an X in the scar end of your tomatoes. When the water boils, drop them in (carefully) and leave them there for one (that's 1) minute. Remove to a bowl of cold water (ice is not at all necessary). Peel off the skins and discard them.
Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into quarters and scrape out the juicy and seedy part into a fine mesh strainer. Cut the tomatoe pieces into quarters and buzz up in the food processor with the garlic and salt and pepper and lemon. Add in the juice that you strained from the seeds. Add some beet. Why? That's how you keep the tomatoes a bright red color. You will not taste the beets. At the last add the xanthan gum while the motor is running. Have a ball figuring out how many ways you can use tomatoes Xanadu.I
