It is that time of year again. Time to harvest and start preserving them for winter. This is something that has happened throughout all mankind. This links us securely to our past. It is interesting to think that we are doing the same thing now as primitive mankind through the generations. With all our great advances in technology we are still linked to the past through simple day to day items like preserving food to prepare for winter.
This was my Great Grandmother’s recipe. She always put a relish on her roast. The relish or “Chile Sauce” as she called it helped to cut the richness of the beef and aid digestion. I don’t know if it really does help aid digestion, but it does pair wonderfully with beef. Her “Chile Sauce” did not have any Chile in them. I am not sure if it is something that translated differently from her native country. She immigrated to the United States from Austria. Her family ended up in Pennsylvania working the coal mines. This is where the tradition of Chow Chow is the most widespread in North America. No one knows the exact origin, but it is most prevalent here. This is great addition to roast, meatloaf, corned beef, the sky is the limit.
The recipe can be made with Green or Red Tomatoes or a combination of both. The redder the tomato the sweeter the sauce.
Green Tomato Chow
10 Quart bucket of Green or Red Tomatoes, peeled and cut up.
To peel tomatoes place in boiling water until the skin starts to split then remove into a bowl or sink of cold water. The peel will come off easily. This also works on peaches.
7 large Onions, sliced
2 pounds Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Mustard Seed
1 teaspoon cloves, ground
1 teaspoon cinnamon, ground
1 teaspoon allspice
2 Tablespoon Salt
1 Quart Vinegar
Place all the above ingredients in a pot and cook until tender, about 2 to 2 ½ hours.
Makes 6 to 7-quart jars.
Follow the canning process of adding to sterilized quart jars, sealing with lids, and processing in a water bath for 20 minutes. Please remember with all canning it is possible to get botulism if the process is not followed correctly. If this is your first-time canning seek out help to ensure you follow the proper procedures.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor!!
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