make green tomato chutney!
I just couldn’t bear to see all of the green tomatoes on the blight infected plants that we pulled go to waste. Roughly 28 plants with nothing to show for it was just too disappointing, so we gathered up what usable fruit we did have and made a big double + batch of chutney (those are just some of the jars on the window sill, there were more behind me on the table. Oh how fondly I remember those days of having kitchen counters…).
I’m not putting up nearly so much this season. Between the poor harvest and the time consuming aspects of trying to find a place to live, I’m just not up for a year like last year. But I’m still putting things by here and there….some strawberries, blueberries and peas, blackberries, greens and herbs. I’m hoping to get up a big batch of pesto next week. I’ll admit that I was just as surprised as anyone to see fresh jars appearing on my bookshelf (I do miss kitchen cabinets too) and a jam packed freezer, in this year when I’m thinking about anything and everything but. It’s just such a normal thing to me now. I don’t even think about it, it’s just what one does. Little bits of summer here and there, all saved up for the winter to come.
Melody, what do you do with the greens. I have so much swiss chard and beet greens that I don't know what to do with.
Also, you may have missed my request for you to lead me to a simple knitting pattern for a fall hat for a little girl, about 6 years old. pmpayette@yahoo.ca
Will you share your recipe? Is it a sweet or hot chutney?
Our hot season is so short, we are always left with LOTS of green tomatoes – I make pickles, but I'm the only one in the family who likes pickles, and I do make fried-green tomatoes a few times, but I need something else to do with the rest of them. I'll have to try some chutney.
Those jars look great all lined up, btw. Way to go! I forgot to ask – what do you serve with your chutney?
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Michelle- I usually blanch and freeze greens, but I'm going to try an experiment this year with the dehydrator. My theory is that if I dry them and then grind them I can make a green powder to add to smoothies and things, while saving some space.
I did see the hat request and I've been meaning to reply, but we've been very busy. It kind of depends on the style you are looking for, but the "Basic Hat & Mitten Set for Children #253" by Knitting Pure and Simple might make a good starting point.
Angela-it's sweet and spicy
And I just used a recipe that I found on-line, with a few adjustments. Sorry, I didn't save it. I really should have, it turned out well! We had it with roasted chicken for dinner the other night and that was wonderful. I'm thinking of mixing the leftover chicken with the leftover chutney for a chicken salad for lunch today. I have a friend who makes incredible dolsas (he grew up in India) and kind of a curried potato thing to go on them. They do all different kinds of chutney's with that. Yum.
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