Ellas Chow Chow Recipes

GREEN TOMATO KETCHUP - QUEBEC STYLE CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• In a large bowl, alternate layers of tomatoes and onions, sprinkling each layer with salt.
• Let stand for at least 8 hours, better overnight.
• Rinse; drain well.
• Combine vegetables with vinegar, sugar and spice bag.
• In a large saucepan or stock pot, bring mixture to a boil, then simmer, uncovered, for about 30 to 45 minutes.
• Stir frequently until slightly thickened.
• Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal.

ELLA'S CHOW-CHOW

Steps:

• If you don't have all the vegetables mentioned, increase the quantity of the vegetables you do have until you have 6 quarts of chopped vegetables. (However, be sure to use some cabbage, peppers, carrots and onions- the other veggies are optional).
• In large pot, stir dry ingredients together, then add liquid ingredients.
• Bring all syrup ingredients to a boil and boil until thickened, stirring frequently.
• Add chopped vegetables and bring to a boil.
• Cook 5 minutes on simmer until vegetables are hot.
• Pack into hot, sterilized jars and seal with hot sterilized lids.
• Invert and let rest for 2 minutes.
• Turn right-side-up and let cool.
• When jars are cooled, the lids should be slightly concave which signifies a good canning seal.
• NOTE: My mother-in-law never processed them in a water bath, but you may do so for about 30 minutes, if you prefer.

CHOW CHOW I

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and salt. Let stand overnight.
• Drain the tomato/pepper mixture and add the hot chile peppers, vinegar, sugar, and horseradish. Wrap the cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in cheesecloth or a porous bag, and add to tomato/pepper mixture.
• Boil for 15 minutes, or until tender.
• Pack tightly in sterilized jars and seal.

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!