Garden Chow Chow Recipes

GARDEN CHOW CHOW

Steps:

• Grind all the above vegetables and place in a huge canning pot. Sprinkle top with 1 Cup of salt. Cover with lid. Let stand overnight. Next day rinse and drain well.
• Pour liquid over vegetables that have been rinsed and drained well. Heat to a boil. Make sure you don't do this on high heat or you will scorch your vegetables. Let simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and place into hot sterilized pint jars. No further processing necessary. Usually makes at least 16 pints depending on the size of the tomatoes.

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.

GARDEN CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• Slice onions and salt to taste.
• Let set 3 hours.
• Slice carrots, zucchini, and tomato and break cauliflower into bite-size pieces.
• After 3 hours, drain onions on paper towel, but do not rinse.
• Cook carrots and cauliflower in vinegar and spices for 5 minutes.
• Add all other ingredients.
• Cook until very hot, about 10 minutes.
• Pack in jars.

SOUTHERN CHOW CHOW

Steps:

• Clean and sterilize 2 quart-size canning jars with lids.
• Add the vinegar, sugar, salt, cloves, mustard seeds, peppercorns, mustard, turmeric, red pepper flakes and bay leaf to a large saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the flavors start to marry, about 5 minutes.
• Add the green tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, onion and cabbage and bring to a boil, lower the heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Divide the mixture between the two jars and let cool to room temperature. Serve immediately or seal and refrigerate for up to 6 weeks.

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!

NOVA SCOTIA GREEN TOMATO CHOW RECIPE - (3.5/5)

Steps:

• In a large pot, sprinkle the tomatoes and onions well with pickling salt, and let sit overnight covered. In the morning, rinse the tomatoes and onions to remove the salt and drain the liquid off. Add them to a large pot, add the vinegar, the sugar, and the pickling spices in a cheesecloth bag. Put the large pot on the stove and turn to medium. Cook the tomato mixture until it is soft and somewhat thickened, about two hours. Stir often, don't let it burn to the bottom of the pan. Seal in hot sterile mason jars. Makes about 6 pints.

CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• Combine all the vegetables in a large bowl. Add salt, and mix well. Add enough cold water to over vegetables, and set aside for 8 hours or overnight. Drain; rinse well underwater, and drain in a colander.
• Whisk remaining ingredients in a large nonreactive stockpot until combined. Add 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; add vegetables. Cook until warmed through, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a nonreactive container; set aside until cool. Cover; refrigerate up to 3 weeks.