Green Tomato Relish

I have mostly said goodnight to my veggie garden for another year.  In doing so, I harvested (all farmer Joe-like) what was left of the tomato crop and came out with a ton of green tomatoes.  In years past I have put the greenies in a paper bag and waited patiently for them to turn red or shared them with neighbors. 

This year I wanted to try something different since I had so many tomatoes! 

Enter Green Tomato Relish.

I sort of used this recipe from allrecipes.com and another one that I can't quite put my finger on at the moment.  Here is what I put in my relish:

All my green tomatoes, chopped (pictured above)
3 white onions, chopped (other recipe called for four, but I couldn't chop any more... crying too much, ha!  I can't imagine having to do 12)3 green peppers, seeded and chopped
2 red peppers, seeded and chopped
1 cup cider vinegar
4 cups sugar
3 Tablespoons mustard seeds
3 Tablespoons celery seeds

Chop the tomatoes, onions (so many tears -- and Sammy laughing at me and trying to steal onion bits while I did it), and peppers.  Bring the vinegar, sugar and seed mixture to a boil.  Add the rest of the chopped veggies and simmer/boil for 10-15 minutes.  Then can; required a 15 minute water bath.

I am quite well known by my husband for 'blowing up' the kitchen while I cook or make something.  I find a way to use nearly every pot, bowl, utensil, knife... well you get the picture.  I'm messy, but have a lot of fun! 

And here is a little peak mid-way.

And the result... it's pretty.  And oh my goodness it tastes amazing!!  So far, I have had it in a wrap, on a turkey sandwich, and on a hamburger.  You can definitely substitute this relish for sweet pickles on whatever you eat.

And the bonus is that I grew those tomatoes!!  Neat, right?  Sort of a things coming full circle thing. 

Next time I want to experiment a little bit with making this more of a spicy relish.  I also wouldn't mind trying a version with apples in it.  But there will be a period of leaves, white stuff, spring, and summer before I have another go. 

Oh, and speaking of things homemade.  Check out this pink applesauce I made the other night. 

PINK!

Pepto pink. 

The color was accidental.  I did the normal little bit of water in a pot, add quartered apples (skin, seeds, and all) boiling down till the apples are soft.  Then run the mixture through a Foley mill. 

I am guessing these particular apples had a lot of red pigment in the skin.  Made for a pretty pink sauce to make us smile at dinner time!!

Hope you are enjoying a bit of cooking time in the kitchen as well... what have you been making?