Monday 8 September 2008

WHY I LOVE AUTUMN

I think Autumn has to be one of my favourite times of the year. We love going out foraging and yesterday took us out blackberry picking - although they're really not brilliant this year. We also have a favourite forest to go to for sweet chestnuts - we have to race the squirrels for them though. I also love making chutneys and this year I've grown my own tomatoes just so I could have some green ones for a green tomato chutney I make. The apples came from the garden too!






Here's the recipe I use if you fancy doing some - it really is the most yummy chutney and should be ready by Christmas.

2.5 lbs green tomatoes

2.5 lbs cooking apples

2 lb onions

1lb raisins or sultans

1lb 6 oz soft brown sugar

1/2 tablespoon cayenne - don't worry it doesn't make it too hot

2 dessertspoons ground ginger

about 6 cloves of garlic

1/2 tablespoon salt

3 pints malt vinegar - I use the white vinegar.

I used a food processor to mash up the tomatoes, then the apples then the onions and put them in a large preserving pan or large saucepan (remember not to add a lid though). I then add all the spices and stir well. Then add the vinegar and put to simmer for about 3 hours until all the vinegar has been absorbed. Leave to cool and store in clean sterilised jars. You can sterilise yours jars by washing in the dish washer and then heating in a low oven for about 10 mins. Cover and label and enjoy in about 2/3 months time.

We have a new addition to the family also - meet Pepper - he's 12 weeks old and loves to sit and watch the little arrow on the computer!


There's a new challenge this week over at INCHY blog - if you've never tried inchies come and have a go - you'll be surprised at what you can do on such a small piece of card!

9 comments:

The Button Witch said...

AWWWWWWWW Pepper is just soooooo cute Chutney looks great too Fiona

Jo said...

awwwwww 'hello Pepper!'
so cute!

not a big lover of chutney Fi, wouldn't be worth me making lots of it, thanks for sharing tho.
I do have a damson tree at the bottom of the garden tho, any recipes besides Damson jam?

Fiona said...

Yes Jo I've got some Damson recipes - i'll email you! x

carolann said...

Pepper is sooo sweet bless have snagged the receipe hun xxxx

Ali said...

Hi,
Chutney sounds great. Hope you don't mind I have put a link on my blog so my mum and others can see too. If this is not ok I will remove post. pepper lokks adorable.
Best wishes
Ali

Nikki said...

this is great - thanks for sharing!
I love autumn too.
So many amazing colours around and I love to walk kicking through the leaves on a crisp sunny morning.

Nikki x

Unknown said...

Thank you for the recipe. I am going to try it out!!

Sammie said...

Just wanted to say Hi and How are you?

When is the Magic Flute? It can't be very far away now, surely. Remind me of the dates, please?

Lots of love,
SammieJay xxx

Sammie said...

We are one week into panto rehearsals. Must say would much prefer to be singing Mozart, but have never done a panto before -so it was time!!! I'm going batty with the music already!
Do you know -in Follies last year over a 4 month rehearsal period the MD only did 2 sessions with me and one of those was with the blocking going on at the same time!!!
with all my sympathy and understanding LOL
SJ xxx