Chow Chow

Most of you have probably given up on this blog.  I haven't given up yet.  Just haven't been inspired to rant for a while.  But there is always food.

It was an odd summer.  Early drought that on the one hand really slowed the growth of my tomatoes but also put off that damned Blight I always get where ever I try to garden.  So toward the end of the summer we got a lot of rain and at the end of the season I had a respectable harvest.  And a lot of green tomatoes I snagged before the first frost.

I remember making this green tomato relish from the Ball Canning Book many years ago.  I really liked it.  I think it's funny their recipe calls bell peppers "hot peppers"  Anyway, this is my version:

•  16 Green Roma Tomatoes
• 1 Red Bell Pepper
• 1 Yellow Bell Pepper
• 1Yellow onion 
• 1 Head Purple Cabbage
• 2 Jalapeno peppers

Chop vegetables fine. Or if you are lucky like me, throw em all in the food processor .  When I made it many years ago I did not have a food processor.  I got this one from my Mom after she died.  I think this is one of the greatest inventions ever.  Two things in the kitchen I do not enjoy, chopping vegetables and grating cheese.

So mix that all up, dump about 1/2 Cup course salt on it and leave it overnight.  The salt will draw the extra liquid out of it.  

The next morning, drain the liquid, rinse with cold water and then drain again and get as much of the liquid out of it as you can.  Squeezing it with your hands works really well.  Yes, use your hands.  I don't understand people that don't want to get their hands in their food.  

 Mix 2 1/2 Cups Cider Vinegar
1 cup loosely packed brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t Ginger
1 T Mustard Seeds

1 T Turmeric
2 t Celery seed
1 t Whole Cloves
 

Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes. Do not let that steam get in your face, it is not pleasant.

Add the vegetables, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. The Ball recipe says cook for an hour. Are you kidding? You don't want to overcook this. I think Ball is just afraid you are going to get botulism and sue them. 10 minutes is fine.

Process in a waterbath for 10 minutes.  Now I need to go buy some brats or Italian sausage or something to eat it with.