Market Day at Rose Park - Sept. 21

Join us at this afternoon from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the . Rain or shine. With the arrival of fall comes all sorts of new fruits and vegetables to use in baking or making soups. There will be meat for roasting or making warming stews. Savory cheeses and flavorful sausages.  

I'll be focusing on the apples at the Quaker Valley Orchards tent.  It's time for me to make my winter's supply of apple chutney. It's an easy recipe and I make it a couple of times while the apples are in season so that I can experiment with different varieties. Chutney can be sweet or spicy depending on how you season it.  It is a great accompaniment to roast pork or chicken, adding flavor and sauciness.  It is also fabulous served over a rich goat cheese to spread on wheat crackers as an hors d'oeuvre or on a ham and cheese sandwich.  I put my chutney up in sterilized jars but you don't have to go to that trouble.  This recipe makes a small enough batch that you can divide it into usable portions and freeze it in airtight containers until you need it.  Just thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Apple Chutney

1 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup water

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

3 1/2 cup apples, coarsely chopped (cored but unpeeled)

1 1/2 cup yellow onion, chopped 

1 Tbs. lemon zest, minced

1 Tbs. lemon juice

5 Tbs. minced garlic (approx. 6 cloves)

1/2 cup raisins

1/4 cup fresh ginger, chopped

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 

1 tsp. kosher salt

2 whole cloves

Have all your ingredients ready before you start.

Put vinegar and water in a 3-quart pot and bring to a boil. Add brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Lower heat to medium-low and simmer vigorously for one hour, stirring occasionally.  The chutney will thicken and darken. When it is syrupy and coats the back of a spoon, it's done. Allow to cool before putting into containers.  

See how you like the way this tastes and then make another batch adjusting amounts (add garlic and red pepper flakes for more heat) or incorporating other spices (curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg).

See you at the Market!