Chow Chow Aka Green Termater Relish Food

CHOW CHOW GREEN TOMATO RELISH RECIPE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Combine the chopped vegetables in a large nonreactive kettle or bowl. Add the salt and stir to combine thoroughly. Cover and let stand for 4 hours or refrigerate overnight.
• Prepare the canner and jars . Add water to a large canning kettle with rack and heat to a boil; reduce heat and keep at a simmer. The water should be high enough to be at least 1 inch above the filled jars. We usually fill it about halfway and keep a kettle or saucepan of water boiling on another burner to add to the canning kettle as needed. Wash jars thoroughly and heat water in a small saucepan. Put the lids in the saucepan and bring almost to the boil; lower heat to very low to keep the lids hot.
• Drain the vegetables and rinse thoroughly.
• In a large nonreactive kettle, combine the vinegar, brown sugar, celery and yellow mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue simmering for 5 minutes.
• Add the drained vegetables and bring back to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
• With a slotted spoon, pack the vegetables into prepared jars. Cover vegetables with the pickling liquid, leaving approximately 1/4-inch headspace.
• With a clean dampened cloth, wipe the rims of the jars. Place the flat lids on the jars. Close caps with screw-on rings tightly, but do not over-tighten. Arrange the filled jars in the canning kettle, and add more water so that it is at least 1 inch above the jars.
• Bring to a full boil. Cover and continue boiling for 10 minutes. Remove the relish to a rack to cool completely.
• Check for seals . The middle of the caps should have made a popping sound while cooling and will stay depressed.

ELIZABETH'S GREEN TOMATO CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• Soak the tomatoes and onions in the first amount of water and the salt over night.
• Drain well in the morning.
• Put the spice in a cloth bag, tie shut and crush with a rolling pin.
• Put the vegetables in a pot with the vinegar and second amount of water, putting in the bag of spice.
• Bring to a boil, then simmer for half an hour.
• Add the sugars and simmer another half an hour.
• Stir together the cornstarch, dry mustard and tumeric.
• Add a little of the simmering liquid to make a paste, then stir it into the tomato mixture.
• Add the chopped pepper.
• Simmer for 1 to 2 hours til thick.
• Spoon into prepared jars and seal according to manufacturers directions.

LIBBIE'S CANNED GREEN TOMATO RELISH CHOW CHOW

Steps:

• Put celery, tomatoes, cabbage, onions, and peppers through food chopper.
• Mix together.
• Add 1 cup kosher salt with 2 quarts cold water.
• Let stand overnight in cool place.
• Next morning drain well.
• Put 2 quarts vinegar to 2 lbs sugar, mustard seed, and celery seed on stove to boil; boil for 10 minutes.
• Pour over chopped vegetables.
• Pack in jars and seal.

CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• Add 1 cup of the salt to the chopped tomatoes in a very large plastic or glass bowl (must be non-reactive, not metal). Mix well & let stand overnight. This might be a good time to clean the remaining vegetables. Thoroughly wash them, removing cores and seeds from peppers, leaves & core from cauliflower and any other undesirable parts. Then thoroughly drain the water off them and store them covered in the fridge until ready to use.
• Next day: drain the tomatoes and place in a large, non-reactive stock-pot but don't turn on the heat yet. (The only one I could think of was the kind coated with enamel, so I went out an got a huge one).
• Either get out your food processor, or a nice big sharp chef's knife because you need to FINELY chop the remaining vegetables (bell peppers, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, onions, hot peppers, garlic). Add all to to the stock pot with the tomatoes.
• Add vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup salt, horseradish, spices.
• Slowly bring to a boil, and simmer about 10 minutes or until onions are getting tender.
• Pack into freshly cleaned & hot canning jars leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace (depending on jar size) place lids on and screw the rings on.
• Process in a hot water bath for 15 minutes by submerging over the tops in a deep pot of hot (almost boiling) water on the stove for 15 minutes. Remove from the pot and let cool and seal.
• My personal critique:.
• I like more onions, like say, double this amount. I'd also just as soon use 2 heads of cabbage as 1 cabbage & 1 cauliflower but that's just me. The cider vinegar could just as easily be white vinegar, and the sugar could also be all brown or all white. Obviously any changes would make a difference in flavor but not enough for me to care. And the spices, I thought some were overdone, mainly the turmeric, allspice and cloves. If I did it again I'd choose to still add them but reduce their amounts to 1/2. Conversely, I think there could be more ginger & ground mustard -- maybe double them? (Read next year's critique.) And lastly, I think we should have added ground black pepper. Many of the recipes called for it, and frankly I think we just forgot. Seems like the recipes call for about 1 tablespoon per gallon of chopped veggies. See you next year!

SWEET AND SPICY GARDEN RELISH/ CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• Grate all the vegetables equalling 4 quarts, in a food processor then place in a large container.
• Add salt, cover with water and allow to stand for 1 hour.
• While the vegetables are soaking, in a large pot, add the sugar, vinegar and pickling spice.
• Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer.
• Drain and rinse the vegetables well squeezing out all liquid; add to the pot and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat; simmer 30 minutes.
• Stir frequently.
• Pour the relish into hot, sterilized pint jars.
• Wipe rims, place lids and screw bands on fingertip-tight; process 15 minutes in a boiling bath.
• Remove to a protected surface to cool, undisturbed, for 24 hours.

EDITH'S RED TOMATO CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large pot (preferably non-stick) and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until desired consistency is reached.
• Stir very often to prevent burning.
• Pack into sterilized jars and seal.

GREEN TOMATO KETCHUP - QUEBEC STYLE CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• In a large bowl, alternate layers of tomatoes and onions, sprinkling each layer with salt.
• Let stand for at least 8 hours, better overnight.
• Rinse; drain well.
• Combine vegetables with vinegar, sugar and spice bag.
• In a large saucepan or stock pot, bring mixture to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Stir frequently until slightly thickened.
• Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal.