Month: July 2020

For some people, every day is Independence Day. For Janis Shinwari, this will be his first 4th of July as an American citizen. And boy, he earned it.

“If I was in Afghanistan—if I didn’t come here, I wouldn’t be alive now. I would be dead.” Shinwari told CNN Heroes in 2018. Shinwari risked his life for nine years serving as a translator for U.S. forces in his native country of Afghanistan. He risked his life everyday knowing that should he be caught by the Taliban, the consequences would be severe. “If the Taliban catch you, they will torture you in front of your kids and families and make a film of you.” Shinwari said. “Then [they’ll] send it to other translators as a warning message to stop working with the American forces.”

But his bravery didn’t stop there. Just ask Captain Matt Zeller. During a routine patrol near the small village of Waghez, Zeller’s unit was attacked by the Taliban. They were both out numbered and out gunned. Zeller found himself in a ditch after losing consciousness from a mortar explosion. As he slowly started gaining back his consciousness, he accepted the reality that he was probably going lose his life. He had no idea how close he really was. Unbeknownst to him, there were two Taliban fighters approaching him. Then gun fire came from the bushes killing them both. The blasts came from the gun of Janis Shinwari.

“I was going to make sort of peace with my fate and I was going to go out fighting,” Zeller told CNN. That was when he found Shinwari standing above him uttering the words, “I am Janis and I am one of your translators. You are not safe.” Even though they had just met days prior, it was the beginning of an unbreakable bond. “Since that time, we become even closer than brothers,” Shinwari explained to CNN.

After the incident, the Taliban put Shinwari on a hit list along with other translators working with the United States military. He reached out to Zeller with hopes of getting a visa to be able to come to America. Shinwari, with a bounty on his head, was hoping the process would take months, but it took years instead. It was not for lack of effort from the man who’s life he saved. Zeller knew he owed Shinwari his life and was determined to help get him to the United States.

“I just basically asked anyone who would listen, ‘Will you help me? I owe this person my life. I’m willing to do whatever it takes. I will cash in and call in whatever favor. I will owe whatever it is that I need to owe. Tell me what it is that I need to do to get you to help me,'” Zeller told CNN. Then in 2013 it happened. Janis Shinwari obtained a visa and his family were finally headed to America.

As soon as Shinwari and his family arrived in America, the country they now call home, Zeller helped them find a car, a job and even started a GoFundMe page that raised over $35,000 to make sure their transition to the U.S. was a smooth one. But Shinwari couldn’t stop thinking about the other translators back in Afghanistan putting their lives on the line for U.S. soldiers.

The two men with an inseparable bond started No One Left Behind, which is a non-profit to help get translators working for the U.S. military a safe haven in America. “We are happy. But I’m not happy about my coworkers, about my brothers and sisters that served the US government in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they are still left behind,” Shinwari said. “I will fight for them, to get them here. And we will not stop fighting. It doesn’t matter how long does it take. But I will fight for them.”

So far the group has come to the aid of over 5,000 translators and their families to navigate the visa process to the United States. They offer support including permanent housing, furniture, employment and language skills. Shinwari adds, “I will not stop fighting until I get the last translator what’s left behind. I promise them that I will never forget about my brothers and sisters that they are still left behind in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Kanye West was reportedly the recipient of a $2 million federal loan, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program disclosed that Yeezy LLC saved 160 jobs thanks to the loan, which reportedly landed between $2 million and $5 million.

The Paycheck Protection Program was instituted earlier this year to help small businesses continue to pay their employees while coronavirus prevention protocols prevented most businesses from remaining open. The Paycheck Protection Program let most companies with 500 or fewer employees apply for loans to cover the cost of eight weeks of payroll.

Kanye made headlines over the 4th of July weekend when he tweeted that he would be running for president, reviving an ambition he’d expressed in 2015. However, it appears that he’s yet to file paperwork and the deadlines to file have passed in six states. However, even without being able to pursue that ambition, Kanye has been relatively successful elsewhere in 2020.

Just last week, he announced that he’d partnered with Gap for a new Yeezy line, for which he’s filed for a trademark on the slogan “West Day Ever.” He also reportedly became hip-hop’s second official billionaire and established a $2 million college fund for George Floyd’s daughter.

For more information on the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, check out Hollywood Reporter‘s original report.

We’re in the midst of a moment that demands action, but what kind? That’s a question without a one-size-fits-all answer thanks, in large part, to the presence of rising COVID counts. Thankfully, something like Label Wars, a merging of gaming and music culture, now stands as an option, offering esports fans a chance to watch a massive multiplayer Call of Duty tournament for charity. Participants in the competition include many of the most massive names in electronic dance music. The event also arrives with a small army of professional gamers from Twitch in tow.

The broadcast will feature live gameplay, with secondary streams linking the webcams of each player so those who tune in don’t have to miss any trash talk between teams. Fans get the option to donate toward the fundraiser on the Label Wars website. Those who do can rest easy in the knowledge that each dime collected will be funneled into one of the most powerful change agents in the Black Lives Matter movement.

To tune in, dance music and Call of Duty fans can visit Twitch to donate and view the stream on July 24th at 3pm PST.

After the event, all funds raised will be donated to the NAACP Freedom Fund to aid in the ongoing fight against racial inequality and injustice in America. Specifically, the Freedom Fund is the essential lifeblood of the NAACP’s local initiatives. It’s how they fund all their community-based efforts to mobilize and empower Black youth in America. The end goal? To abolish the continued inequality created by a four century-long subjugation of Black people. In addition to providing social and political programs, the Freedom Fund can propel youth forward in work and life with tremendous social and political programs. It also provides the fuel that rockets graduates of the NAACP’s Act-So program into the forefront of Black society.

“It’s nearly impossible to find a song or artist in the vast universe of dance music that has not been directly influenced by some pioneering work in the Black community.” Label Wars Co-Founder Cody Harvey tells Uproxx. “By partnering with the NAACP, we hope to help raise awareness about the BLM movement and inspire others to answer the call.”

In the Label Wars inaugural event, last month, the leaderboard of players included staples from the upper echelons of music, specifically EDM. Like Borgore, Jauz, and Zeds Dead, who casually sit atop lineups at Electric Daisy Carnival and Coachella. Other virtuosos on the lineup included Oliver Heldens, Kayzo, Ganja White Night, Ghastly and more.

In the upcoming event, which will be hosted on July 24th, icons like Waka Flocka, Surfmesa, and Francis Derelle will be joining returning stars like the legendary Steve Aoki.

Of his stoke levels surrounding the competition, Steve Aoki tells Uproxx, “When I heard that COV-AID and EDM.com were getting a bunch of record labels together for a COD tourney to raise funds for Boys & Girls Clubs of America, I had to get Dim Mak involved. EDM & Gaming go hand in hand and this seemed like a great opportunity to use our platforms for a good cause. Shout-out to Waka Flocka, Kane Brown and Rated for joining team Dim Mak and throwing down with us!”

The tournament includes more than twenty teams representing a star-studded list of labels, like Astralwerks, Bite This, Buygore, Circus Records, Deadbeats, Dim Mak, Disruptor Records, Divided Souls, DPMO, Elysian, Fresh Blood, Heavyweight, Heldeep, Kursza, Mad Decent, Monstercat, Never Say Die, Protocol, Subcarbon, Thrive, and Welcome Records. In the prior competition, Team Disruptor came out the victor with the advantageous map familiarity and precision marksmanship of professional Call of Duty player, Lost Kings.

“Winning money last time for The Boys and Girls Club of America and now getting to fundraise for the NAACP is truly amazing. These are crazy times right now and it means a lot that we can help.” The inaugural Label Wars Champion, Lost Kings, tells Uproxx. “We stand with the BLM movement.”

The inclusion of pro gamer celebs from Twitch like Thinnd, Zer0, Mox and MissesMae lend legitimacy to the toughness of the competition. After all, where’s the fun in a show of shimmering jellyfish if there aren’t a few sharks in the tank? For music fans, it’s a rare opportunity to see their favorite artists in a fresh albeit familiar setting. For couch surfing gamers, it’s a way to fuel socio-political change efforts at a pivotal time in history. So far pro gamers alone are set to deliver the approximate clout of a combined twenty–five million followers in the forthcoming Label Wars event too, which plugs charity efforts like these directly into a massive and largely untapped generation of potential supporters.

In addition to levying the star power of the folks involved for such an important cause, the effort arrives at a time when the NAACP Freedom Fund is receiving more requests for help than ever. Naturally, as the call is answered and the snowballing rage against discrimination and racism in society gains momentum more people and organizations are looking to support groups like BLM and the NAACP.

Black Thought, founding member of the iconic group The Roots, has announced the third installment of his solo EP series Streams Of Thought. The upcoming project will showcase Black Thought’s impeccable songwriting, along with a host of features from artists like Killer Mike, Pusha T, Schoolboy Q, and Portugal The Man.

Titled Streams Of Thought Vol. 3: Cain And Abel, the 13-track EP is slated for a late July release. The rapper unveiled the project’s tracklist Monday and the news is the latest we’ve heard from the rapper following the announcement of his upcoming off-Broadway play Black No More.

Check out Black Thought’s Streams Of Thought Vol. 3: Cain And Abel art and tracklist below.

1. “I’m Not Crazy (First Contact)”
2. “State Prisoner”
3. “Good Morning” Feat. Swizz Beats, Pusha T and Killer Mike
4. “Magnificent”
5. “Experience (Interlude)”
6. “Quiet Trip” Feat. Portugal The Man and The Last Artful, Dodgr
7. “Nature Of The Beast” Feat. Portugal The Man and The Last Artful, Dodgr
8. “We Should Be Good” Feat. CS Armstrong
9. “Steak Um” Feat. Schoolboy Q
10. “Thought Vs. Everybody”
11. “Ghetto Boyz & Girls” Feat. CS Armstrong
12. “Fuel” Feat. Portugal The Man and The Last Artful, Dodgr
13. “I’m Not Crazy (Outro)”

Streams Of Thought Vol. 3: Cain And Abel is out 7/31 via Passyunk Productions/Human Re Sources.

Some of the artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

UPDATE: An exact number is not in, but thanks to Adam Schefter of ESPN, we have a sense of the ballpark in which Patrick Mahomes’ new deal will end up. Schefter brings word that Mahomes’ deal will be worth more than $400 million, although it is unclear how much more than that record-setting number Mahomes will get.

EARLIER: The No. 1 priority for the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs this offseason was making sure superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes got a contract extension that rewarded him for what he’s been able to accomplish in his young NFL career. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Mahomes is going to get just that, as the reigning Super Bowl MVP is reportedly getting a whole lot of money over a whole lot of years with the hopes of keeping him in Kansas City for the next decade.

Schefter brings word that the Chiefs and Mahomes came to an agreement to a decade-long contract extension. As a result, Mahomes is set to remain with the franchise through the 2031 campaign.

Unsurprisingly, the amount of years isn’t the only gigantic number associated with this deal. Schefter reports that Mahomes’ deal will be the richest in league history, although an exact number has not been reported.

There is speculation that Mahomes’ deal could, as the years go on, be a little more complex than just a consistent dollar amount, with the possibility existing that it could be tied to the future salary cap. Whatever it is, one can argue that the Chiefs are getting a bargain — Mahomes, in his two years as the team’s starting signal caller, has began traveling down a path that could end with him being one of the best to ever line up under center. Because his numbers are always extremely funny to see written out, Mahomes has completed 66 percent of his passes during his two years as Kansas City’s starter for 9,128 yards with 76 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

On Sunday, NASCAR ran the Brickyard 400 (this year known as the Big Machine Hand Sanitizer 400) at Indianapolis, as Kevin Harvick raced to another win on the season, his fifth, as Denny Hamlin, the other top driver this year in the championship battle, blew a right front tire and crashed while in the lead, seven laps from the checkered flag.

While Harvick and Hamlin have been dominant this season, the story in NASCAR in recent months has been about the sport, which has long lagged behind in speaking out on race and social issues, taking leaps forward thanks in large part to its lone Black driver, Bubba Wallace, speaking up and using his platform. Wallace got NASCAR to ban confederate flags from events, leading to some backlash from some fans, and has been a prominent voice in speaking up for racial equality in America.

Two weeks back, a garage pull tied as a noose was found in Wallace’s stall at Talladega, sparking a NASCAR and FBI investigation into a possible hate crime. It was determined the pull had been tied that way since last October, and all parties moved on — although, why someone tied it that way remains an unanswered question. The investigation looked into garage pulls at other NASCAR tracks and found that was the only one, and there was little doubt it was indeed fashioned as a noose. Still, it led to a certain segment of the fanbase hollering about it being a hoax and targeting Wallace, who wasn’t even the person that reported the noose to NASCAR, only further illustrating the racism that he faces.

On Monday, that continued, when the president came after Wallace on Twitter — again, two weeks after the incident — to demand an apology from a man that has done nothing wrong for a “hoax” that was both not a hoax and also not a thing that had been started by Wallace.

Like most Trump statements, it was filled with false information. For one, both NASCAR and the FBI referred to the garage pull as being, indeed, tied as a noose — as the photo released by NASCAR showed. On top of that, Wallace was never the one to report the noose, as it was a team member that informed NASCAR of it and Wallace was made aware of it then. Finally, NASCAR has seen ratings increases over the past few weeks, with Fox’s broadcasts up eight percent from before the hiatus and NBC’s broadcast on Sunday being its highest rated Indy broadcast since 2017.

Later in the day, Wallace issued a statement of his own explaining to Black children that they will always be targeted and have more expected of them than others, that they should walk with their head held high on whatever path they take, and combat hate with love, even when that hate is “from the POTUS.”

Wallace’s statement got a stamp of approval from LeBron James, who has been vocal in supporting Wallace’s efforts to speak out in a sport that rarely does so.

How Wallace has handled himself over the past month-plus has been truly remarkable given the intense scrutiny and pressure he’s been under. He’s spoken powerfully about racial injustice, gotten NASCAR to begin making some serious changes, and has dealt with a tremendous amount of media inquiries and fan response (both positive and negative) all while continuing to run well on the track.

At the start of June, DaBaby and Roddy Ricch’s “Rockstar” rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Now, the single’s run of prosperity continues: On the Hot 100 chart dated July 11, “Rockstar” claims the N0. 1 spot for a fourth week.

Furthermore, Jack Harlow’s remix of “Whats Poppin” — which features DaBaby, Tory Lanez, and Lil Wayne — has risen from No. 8 to No. 2, meaning that DaBaby currently occupies the chart’s top two spots. DaBaby is now the first artist to hold the top two spots on the Hot 100 since Ariana Grande did it in February 2019. (On the chart dated February 23, Grande actually occupied the top three spots, thanks to “7 Rings,” “Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m Bored” and “Thank U, Next.”)

This week’s chart brought noteworthy trivia about other artists as well. Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” rose up to the No. 8 spot, making it his third top-ten hit. That’s the most songs in the top ten among the former One Direction members.

Meanwhile, Post Malone’s “Circles” has left the top ten, over two months after the single broke the all-time record for most time spent in the top ten.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Former officials from the George W. Bush administration and campaign launched a super PAC in support of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, declaring they “knew it was time to take a stand.” They claim that they seek to unite and mobilize a community that is historically Republican voters. The group, consisting of at least 200 former officials, aides and Cabinet secretaries, formed “43 Alumni for Biden” to block President Donald Trump from winning a second term. They claim on their website that there have been “far too many days filled with chaos emanating from the highest levels of government” and that “political differences may remain among us, but we look forward to a time when civil, honest and robust policy discussions are the order of the day.”

When I read about “43 Alumni for Biden,” it gave me a great sense of hope. Even though I didn’t vote for Biden and I’m not a huge fan, I am liberal and think it’s important to accept anyone willing to admit that they are disappointed in their political party. It takes someone with real strength to admit the damage that has been done to our nation by Trump’s presidency. It takes even more strength to say they voted for Trump, they were wrong and now they want to fix it.

My optimism has less to do with what side they are on and much more to do with the act of reaching across the isle. Almost all politicians have their heels dug on issues that align with their respective political party. The only thing worse than someone trying to prove that they are always right is someone putting all their energy into proving that their counterpart is consistently wrong.

What is even more counterproductive is the person who waggles the “I told you so” finger in the face of someone who has the audacity to change their mind and actually agree with them. Why anyone would shame someone for having the courage to admit they were wrong is a concept that befuddles me to this day. Yet it happens more often than not. The fear of being ridiculed plays a huge role in our inability to be vulnerable. We have an opportunity to come together as a country. As long as we all grow the hell up.

When a politician changes their stance on an issue whether it is because of new information or just a change of heart—especially after reflecting on things and keeping an open mind, they are labeled as a flip flopper. Somehow it seems like they have more credibility if they can say that they believed something all along because it makes them look smart. Ask yourself, who do you trust more: someone who always says they are right or someone who can utter the words “That’s a really good point?” We need to take it upon ourselves to be the bigger person.

Remember all that progress you made in your relationship when you screamed at your partner with guns a blazing telling them how wrong they were. Remember when they responded by telling you that you had excellent points and they would try and do better from now on. Oh, wait. You probably can’t because that never happens. But I could be wrong (see what I did there).

Now imagine a time when you might have made a mistake, and your partner speaks to you with tenderness and understanding with the inevitable dash of disappointment because, lets face it, you deserve it. I think we would all opt for the undesirable cherry as opposed to a full on sundae of shame.

We are imperfect emotional beings and protect our psyche like a dog learning the boundaries of a newly installed invisible electric fence. Once our pride gets zapped, we are less likely to venture out as far, and in fact, will most likely recoil deep within the boundaries of our comfort zone.

The people involved with 43 Alumni for Biden have been able to reassess the state of the Republican party to which they held such loyalty. Just because they are supporting a Democrat in Joe Biden, doesn’t mean they need to turn their back on their traditional Republican views. This is about more than just taking a step back and putting aside any blind loyalty one might have to their respective political party. It is unclear what percentage of the organization voted for Donald Trump in 2016. I am going to guess not very many punched a chad for Hillary Clinton.

When you vote for someone, you have put your trust in them. That leads to defending any perceived missteps they may have had because you advocated and believed in them. The more controversy there is, the more you feel the need to justify your vote and defend them even more. Then you find yourself defending the fact that you are defending them and believe the negative news coverage is a lie or a smear campaign.

I did it with both Bill and Hillary Clinton in the midst of everything that was being said about them. Then I stopped and thought about what my thought process would be if it was George W. Bush that was being accused of the exact same things. It was the moment I realized I wasn’t being honest with myself. The diagnosis? We protect our ego on subconscious and primal level and fear the vulnerability that comes with admitting that we were misguided. Once we are able to face that, we can really get to the core of why we don’t budge.

We are going to need all the communication skills we can muster up because if you think the months were bizarre leading up to the 2016 election, I am pretty sure Kanye West has something special planned for us. Buckle your seatbelt and open your minds because just when you thought 2020 couldn’t possibly have any surprises, things are about to get even weirder.

It’s not an easy time for people to feel hopeful—especially when you consider the constant problem that’s facing America right now with climate change and our government’s lagging efforts for improvement. It’s extremely important to understand why our planet is warming and what we can do to mitigate it.

Teen activists like Greta Thunberg are in the forefront of change and encouraging others to spread awareness and education. We can all take a deep breath for a moment, though. There is some hope after all. Climate change education is coming to New Jersey class rooms in September 2021. It’s the first state in the U.S. to announce a new initiative that will incorporate climate change education into its curriculum. According to NJ.com, the plans will include teaching students about climate change, how it works and how it impacts society.

First Lady Tammy Murphy, who’s spearheading the curriculum, said the New Jersey Board of Education will soon mandate lessons on climate change for all K-12 public school students. The lessons will be incorporated across different areas of contents including 21st Century Life and Careers, Comprehensive Health and Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, Technology, Visual and Performing Arts and World Languages. She mentions that students will also use art and creativity to address universal themes in climate change.

Teaching all New Jersey public school students about climate change is vital, which First Lady Murphy conveyed further. The Garden State has already experienced high sea level rise on the Jersey Shore and lake areas, as well as harmful algal blooms and extreme heat spikes in the state.

Photo by Chermel Porter on Unsplash

“Decades of short-sighted decision-making has fueled this crisis and now we must do all we can to help our children solve it,” she said. “This generation of students will feel the effects of climate change more than any other, and it is critical that every student is provided an opportunity to study and understand the climate crisis through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary lens.”

Former Vice President Al Gore, a supporter of Murphy’s environmental initiative, praised New Jersey on the new standards. Last year, he compared the fight against climate change to 9/11 and pivotal World War II struggles like the Battle of Midway and Bulge. In a statement recently, he noted he was “incredibly proud” of climate change being taught in schools and believes that future generations will be greatly impacted. After all, children are the leaders of tomorrow. He continued, saying, “We will need leaders who are not only well educated about the effects of climate change, but leaders who can craft solutions for climate change and implement those solutions.”

Hopefully other states will follow suit and we can further our education and activism to make this planet a better place. But, of course, the first step is knowledge. The best way to put this is what former President Barack Obama said in the State of the Union in 2014: “The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way. But the debate is settled. Climate change is a fact. And when our children’s children look us in the eye and ask if we did all we could to leave them a safer, more stable world, with new sources of energy. I want us to be able to say yes, we did.”

Making ketchup at home seems damn near pointless, given pretty much every grocery store has plenty of varieties on the shelf. It’s cheap, accessible, and it keeps forever. But ketchup is also one of those foods that you think you know but actually might not. And only by trying your hand at homemade ketchup can you come to understand the condiment on a deeper level.

Yes, I’m waxing poetic about a tomato-based condiment. Yes, I’m prepared to die on this hill.

There’s a lot of banter in internet circles about the worthiness of ketchup, but those arguments really only seem to happen online. If you’re grilling burgers or brats in the real world, ketchup is sure to be in play. The haters are rare when you’re off Twitter and at the park. Still, to convert any true non-believer to the power of this condiment, you need to make it from scratch. It’s time-consuming, sure, but it’s also pretty easy. Plus, once you make a batch, you can start to customize it to your palate.

Before we dive in, this is a from-scratch recipe. No cutting-corners. All told, this will take up an afternoon — around three to four hours. I’m making a pretty big batch that’ll last a month or two. You can cut this recipe in half to make basically one bottle.

Part I: Ingredients

• 4-lbs Tomatoes (Red and whatever is in season)
• One Yellow Onion
• Four Cloves of Garlic
• 1/2 cup Dark Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 cup White Vinegar
• 4-oz. Tomato Paste
• One tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
• One tbsp. Ground Dried White Truffle
• One tbsp. Anchovy Paste
• One tsp. Ground Corriander
• One tsp. Mustard Powder
• One tsp. Smoked Paprika
• One tsp. White Pepper
• One dash of Celery Salt
• One dash Cayenne Pepper
• One pinch of Ground Clove
• One Bay Leaf
• Fresh Lemon Juice
• Sea Salt
• Olive Oil

To save time, you can absolutely switch out the fresh tomatoes for canned like these. You can also save time by using tomato puree and onion and garlic powder instead of fresh onion and garlic (supplementing with one tablespoon of each). The flavor will still be there but not quite as deep.

Part II: Prep

The first time-consuming aspect of this recipe is blanching and peeling all the tomatoes. I purposefully bought large tomatoes so this would be easier. The smaller the tomato, the more annoying this process will be.

I get a large pot on the stove and bring water to a barely a simmer. In the meantime, score the bottom of the tomatoes and remove the stem core.

Once the water is just bubbling, I add in the tomatoes three or four at a time. Let them rest in the hot water until the skin continues to crack from the scoring crosses on the bottom of the fruit.

I immediately remove the tomatoes from the hot water to a cold water bath to stop them from cooking. I then add in another batch of tomatoes into the hot water. In the meantime, peel the tomatoes in the cold water bath. The skins should peel off with little to no effort. Rinse and place in a bowl. Repeat with the rest of the tomatoes.

Next, I peel and dice the onion. It doesn’t have to be perfectly diced as everything will eventually be emulsified. I also peel the garlic. And, that’s it for prep, we’re ready to make some ketchup.

Part III: Cook

The Base

I dump the water from the pot I was using to blanch the tomatoes and dry it out. I add enough olive oil to make a thin layer across the bottom of the pot. I add in the onion and a pinch of salt to sweat them out.

While that’s sweating, I dice my tomatoes. Again, this doesn’t have to be exact.

Once the onion is translucent, I crush the garlic into the pot and stir until it’s fragrant. I then add the tomatoes, making sure to get as much of the tomato juice into the pot as possible without spilling everywhere.

Next, I add a big pinch — some would call it a punch — of salt and bring the whole thing up to a light simmer. I cover the pot with an ajar lid and let it do its thing. Basically, we’re just making a simple tomato sauce at this point.

I let the sauce simmer for a solid hour, stirring every 15 minutes or so. Once, the flesh of the tomato is breaking down, it’s ready to be blended. You’ll also notice the smell of the sauce shifts from raw tomato to something more akin to a tomato sauce you’d get on pasta in Naples.

At this point, you could add some butter, boil some pasta, and make a killer Spaghetti Pomodoro.

The Ketchup

Once you have a fragrant and gloppy sauce, it’s time to blend it into a smooth puree. I use an immersion hand-mixer which is a lot safer than transferring the simmering liquid to a stand-up blender of some sort. You should definitely have an immersion hand-mixer if you’re going to be making sauces like this.

Once the sauce is completely smooth, it’s time to start adding the flavors that make this ketchup.

A quick aside: The two x-factors I like to use are dried white truffles and anchovy paste. The anchovy paste sort of has two elements. One, it’s a call back to ketchup’s East Asian origins as a fermented fish sauce. Two, it adds that little something that’ll make this ketchup pop. It’s not fishy, it’s more a level of texture and depth of flavor that you cannot replicate otherwise. The white truffles add an earthy level of umami that really helps the tomato shine down the road. Plus, the mushroom was a stepping stone from ketchup being a fish-based sauce to a tomato-based sauce, historically speaking.

In essence, adding these two components gives us the history of ketchup in one bottle. You can replace each with off-the-shelf mushroom powder and soy sauce as needed.

Once all of the ingredients are stirred in, I lower the heat and let the sauce simmer with an ajar lid for at least another hour. You want the sauce to reduce by at least a quarter, if not half. Low and slow is the play. I stir every ten minutes or so so that sugars don’t burn on the bottom of the pot. After about a half-an-hour, the ketchup will start to smell very tasty and ketchup-y.

After an hour of simmering, check the taste. You might need to add a little more salt and pepper, maybe some more Worcestershire or paprika. In the end, it should taste good to you. I ended up adding a little more salt and white pepper and a small squeeze of lemon juice.

Finally, once the ketchup has reduced, you’ll need to strain it through a fine sieve. You’ll be left with a clump of the thicker parts of the ketchup which you can discard.

Part IV: Storage

I funnel my ketchup into a squeeze bottle with a lid. Make sure you completely cool it in the fridge before you use it. It should last four to six weeks in the refrigerator but it won’t last long since you’ll be putting it on everything!

The ketchup has a rich umami base with a hint of sweet next to the tanginess. It’s really about the tomatoes that are counterpointed by the umami of the Worcestershire, truffle, and anchovy that just works. I prefer this version as it’s not overly saccharine or tart. Once you make it once, you’ll be able to start to customize it to you particular palate. Make your tweaks and hit us with them on Instagram or in the comments!