Autumn Chutney Recipes

AUTUMN APPLE-PEAR CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Submerge 6 empty half-pint jars on a rack in a large pot of water. Cover and bring to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to low to keep jars warm until ready to fill.
• Combine apples, pears, onion, vinegar, sugar, cherries, lemon, mustard seeds, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves in a wide, nonreactive 4-quart pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Once it bubbles, reduce heat to medium; simmer gently, stirring often, until mixture is thickened and a spoon drug through leaves a trail that doesn't fill in immediately, about 1 hour. Toward the end of the cooking, make sure to stir every minute or so to prevent scorching. Remove from heat.
• Working with one jar at a time, remove empty jars from canning pot. Using a wide-mouth funnel, carefully ladle jam into jars, leaving 1/2 inch for headspace. Use a clean wooden chopstick to work air bubbles out of jars. Check headspace again and add more chutney if necessary to bring to 1/2 inch from the top.
• Wipe jar rims, apply lids and rings (not too tightly), and return jars to canning pot. Cover pot and return water to a rolling boil. Process for 10 minutes. Turn off heat, remove pot lid, and let jars stand in the cooling water 5 minutes to help ensure a good vacuum seal.
• Move jars to a folded kitchen towel or wooden cutting board to cool completely before checking seals. Any unsealed jars should be refrigerated and eaten promptly. Store sealed jars in a cool, dark place. Sealed jars are shelf-stable at least 1 year.

OLD FASHIONED SCOTTISH APPLE AND GINGER CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Place all the prepared onions and apples into a large preserving pan and add the remaining ingredients.
• Bring slowly to the boil and then lower the heat so that chutney cooks at a rolling boil.
• Stir the chutney regularly and make sure it does not "catch" and burn on the base of the preserving pan.
• Keep on cooking until the chutney is the consistency of a thick jam and all the liquids have dissolved.
• (A trick to check if it is cooked is to draw your wooden spoon across the chutney, if the space that is left fills up with liquid, the chutney is not ready yet!).
• Spoon the hot chutney into hot and sterile jars and seal immediately.
• Makes about 4 lbs chutney.
• Store in a dark and cool place and leave to mature for at least 2 weeks.
• Will keep in ideal storage conditions for up to 2 years+.