Friday, October 14, 2011

Green Tomato Relish

The season is basically done. Time to harvest the green tomatoes and tend to the garden...still dripping with withered tomatoes, plants drying up and too many cool nights to expect anything more. Sad to see it end but excited to try the old family recipe for Green Tomato Relish!


Let me just start with the fact I have been meaning to make this relish for maybe...30 years? It was an old favorite and I believed I was not capable. See here the old recipe card, splattered and used many times. I decided this was the year to go out on a limb and just DO IT. How could I fail?



Slicing and salting...easy enough, right?




Cooking the tomatoes and onions, sterilizing jars, adding spices, boiling, filling jars, sterilizing again, phew! I was beat.



But the label was my time to shine. I had a grand old time making the tag. We taste tested one jar and it was just as we remembered. Carlee knew how to cook, and she taught me to never be afraid of trying new things! Her passion for cooking, sharing and life is what I aspire to daily!

Recipe for Green Tomato Relish

3 lbs. Green Tomatoes
4-6 Onions
1/2 cup salt
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 quart cider vinegar
 
Seasoning: 2 tblsp. cracked cinnamon
& 4 cloves (in a cheesecloth bag)
1 tblsp. dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tblsp. celery seed
1 tblsp. cayenne 

Slice & soak in salt green tomatoes &
onions overnight. Drain. Bring brown
sugar & vinegar to a boil with spices
and bag of spices. Add tomaoes, onions.
Lower heat and cook approx. 20 minutes
or until tomatoes are tender.

Follow professional instructions for jarring
produce, but simply....buy pint jars with
canning lids. Boil jar and lids separately.
Por hot tomato mixture into sterilized jars.
Wipe lids, seal with tops. Boil again 10 min.
for pint sized jars. Cool overnight.

1 comment:

  1. And I am one of the lucky recipients!
    Congrats on getting it done and thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete