I’m a big fan of lists. Grocery lists. To-do lists. Not to-do lists. To-read lists. Covet lists. I-totally-want-to-drink-that lists. I’m-jealous-of-your-hair lists. Wake-up-early-and-change-the-world lists. Sweep-the-dang-kitchen-floor lists.

My favorite, and most recent list is the Summer Bucket List: a dreamy list of things I want to do while the sun (and I) stay up late. Do you have one of these lists? ooh I hope so! Tracy and I have talked about our Summer Bucket List on the Joy the Baker Podcast (are you hip to that yet!?). Here’s a peek at the Bucket List happenings:

– Go on and Get Crafty!

– Walk around New York City like I know what’s up! Sometimes this is hard for a California girl… but I’m totally doing it riiiight now!

– It’s time for a public dance spectacle. Oooh ya. It’s real. As soon as I learn some moves I’m doing this!

– Eat too many hotdogs, in a pool, wearing floaties, during sunset. Sounds like the weirdest, most romantic eating contest ever. Awesome.

– Beach bonfire. With a trampoline. Does this only happen in The Big Lebowski?

Also on my list: Make Homemade Ketchup! It’s happening!

Yes… you can totally buy ketchup at the grocery in a squeeze bottle. Pffft. It’s so satisfying to make and majorly easy to customize. Buck-it! It’s summer!

Ketchup starts with onion, garlic, and spices.

Did you know that ketchup has so many spices in it? Heck yes! A good base to start with is clove, allspice, mustard powder, and smokey paprika.

As a kick in the pants, I added a big bit of yellow curry powder!

Other ketchup heavy-hitters are: crushed canned tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and tomato paste. It just needs a good boiling. About an hour of slow boiling turns this mixture into a luscious ketchup creation.

I like to blend the ketchup with an immersion blender and strain it through a fine mesh strainer.

No seeds and super smooth!

… Just look at this! This is inappropriately exciting.

The presence of ketchup really just means one thing: FRENCH FRIES!!! You best believe I’m showing you how to make these little fried potato gems on Friday. Get your ketchup going in preparation. It’s totally a weeknight activity.

The curry in this ketchup lends a subtle yet really enticing flavor to the mixture. It’s sweet and round, has just the right amount of acid, and the combination of clove, mustard, paprika, and curry really just knows how to work. I love that I can boil this in my kitchen. It feels like magic.

I hope you’re inspired to make this! We have fries in our future!