Garden Relish Canned Food

CANNING SWEET PICKLE RELISH

Steps:

• Wash the cucumbers, peppers, and onions under cold water. Slice the peppers and discard the stems, membranes, and seeds. Remove the stem and blossom ends of the cucumbers; you can, but don't have to peel away the skins of the cucumbers. Peel away the outer skin of the onion. Now chop the cucumbers, peppers, and onions or put each through a food chopper separately using a medium or "chop" blade. About ¼ inch cubes is ideal.
• Measure 6 cups of chopped cucumbers, 3 cups chopped sweet peppers, and 3 cups chopped onions.
• Combine the vegetables in a large bowl, a 5 or 6 quart saucepan. Sprinkle with pickling salt and stir to mix. Add cold water to cover. Let the vegetables stand covered at room temperature for 2 hours (longer if you like).
• Drain the vegetable mixture in a colander set in the sink, rinse with fresh water, and drain well. Return the vegetables to the bowl, cover with ice water, and let the vegetables sit for 1 more hour.
• Combine the vinegar and sugar in a 4-quart kettle or pot. Put the spices in a cheesecloth or spice bag.
• Quickly bring the mix to a boil, stirring constantly. Add the vegetables to the pot and return the mixture to boiling. Cook uncovered over medium-high heat about 10 minutes or until most of the excess liquid evaporates; stir occasionally to keep the mix from sticking to the pot.
• Ladle the relish into hot, sterilized half-pint canning jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Run a spatula down in between the relish and jar to release air bubbles. Fill with more cooking liquid if necessary.
• Wipe the jar rims with a clean, damp cloth and adjust the lids in place to seal. Screw the ring bands on as tightly as you can.
• Put the jars on a rack in a boiling-water canner making sure they don't touch the canner sides. The hot water in the canner should just cover the jar lids by 1 to 2 inches. . Place the kettle covered on the range to heat. Bring the water in the canner to a boil for 10 minutes (start timing when the water reaches a boil).
• Take jar out of water at end of processing time with a jar lifter being careful not to disturb the lid seal. Cool on a wire rack or folded towel away from drafts. Leave on ring bands in place until jars are cool. Check for good seal by pressing each lid with your finger; if the lids stay down when pressed, the jars are sealed and the rings can be removed.
• Label and store canned relish in a cool, dark place. Refrigerate all jars after opening.

END OF GARDEN RELISH

Steps:

• Toss first 5 ingredients; let stand 3 hours. Drain; squeeze and blot dry with paper towels., In a Dutch oven, mix sugar, vinegar, celery seed and mustard seed; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Add vegetables; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes., Ladle hot mixture into hot 1-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight., Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 20 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

FRESH GARDEN RELISH

Steps:

• Grind the cabbages, carrots, onions and peppers in a food chopper (I grated), then add salt and let stand 2 hours.
• Place in a colander and drain.
• Wash if mixture is too salty.
• Add the vinegar, sugar, celery seed and mustard seed and stir well.
• Heat and pour into sterilized jars and seal.
• Variation: Instead of carrots, I used grated summer squash, green tomatoes and added 6-8 hot jalapeno peppers.

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.