Green Tomato Chutney

This recipe is in Delia Smith’s Complete Illustrated Cookery Course. (Makes about  8 lbs)

2 1/2 lbs green tomatoes (washed and cut into quarters)

2 lbs onions (peeled and quartered)

2 1/2 lbs cooking apples (quartered and cored, leave the peels on)

1 lb raisins

6 large cloves of garlic (peeled and crushed)

1/2 tbsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tbsp salt

4 tsp ground ginger

1lb 6oz soft brown sugar 

1 oz pickling spice

3 pints genuine malt vinegar (1 3/4 litres)

Equipment

A small preserving pan, eight 1lb preserving jars, a mincer or a food processor, string and some gauze.

Pulse the tomatoes in a food processor for a few seconds until they’re finely chopped, and then place them in the pan. Pulse the onions, raisins and the apples (don’t worry if they turned brown), and add them all to the pan. Now add the crushed garlic, cayenne, salt, ground ginger and brown sugar, and blend everything thoroughly. Tie the pickling spice in a small piece of double thickness gauze, and attach it to the handle so that it hangs down into the other ingredients.

Pour in the vinegar and bring to simmering point. Remove any scum from the surface and let the mixture simmer very gently for approximately 3 1/2 hours with out covering. Stir occasionally, especially towards the end to prevent the mixture from sticking. The chutney is ready when the vinegar has almost been absorbed, and it has thickened to a nice soft consistency and the spoon leaves a trail. Be careful not to overcook.

When the chutney is ready fill the hot jars as full as you can. Cover with waxed sealing discs and seal with a tight lid immediately. I wash my jars and lids in the dishwasher, so that they’re sterilized and won’t crack when I pour in the hot chutney.

This chutney is delicious with cheese and cold cuts, and excellent with a ploughman’s lunch. I keep intending to make extra so that I can give some chutney as a gift, but it's so delicious I can't bear to give it away. Maybe next year I can make three batches! 

Southgate Family Restaurant, Bath, Maine

I love the little town of Bath in Maine, and fortunately for me I get to visit about twice a year! There are some wonderful shops, including Renys and April 56—I never know what I'm going to find. This year I found a gorgeous door mat made from reclaimed fishing rope. Maine lobstermen are turning in their floating lines for sinking lines, so selling off the old rope is offsetting the cost for all the time and effort it takes to do that. As you can imagine these mats are very durable, waterproof and very colorful! 
My favorite place to eat in Bath is the Southgate Restaurant, opposite Bath Iron Works, a major shipyard which was founded in 1884. Southgate Family Restaurant is very clean and bright, and hugely popular with the locals. The atmosphere is very buzzy and friendly with a lovely whiff of coffee in the air. The portions are generous, and they make delicious chowders and home-made fruit pies.

Southgate Family Restaurant,

510 Washington St, Bath, ME 04530-1819

(207) 442-8185

The Square Diner, Tribeca, New York City

The Square Diner is a cosy old-fashioned diner in the heart of Tribeca. It’s a perfect spot to escape from the bustle. The staff is friendly, and the food is delicious with generous portions and amazingly low prices for New York City! It was a warm day when we stopped for breakfast, so we sat outside which was a real treat. This is a real jewel!

It so happened that we were in town on the anniversary of 9/11, so after breakfast we walked the ten blocks or so to Ground Zero. There were thousands of visitors milling about. There was a definite heaviness in the air. When we visited St. Paul’s, a little church right next to Ground Zero, the emotions of that day just flooded right back. The emergency workers used the church as a resource center and as a place to rest. The exhibits and photos of people who perished brought tears to my eyes.

Square Diner

33 Leonard Street (at Leonard and Varick)

Tribeca, NY 10013

(212) 925-7188

Cup & Saucer Luncheonette, Chinatown, New York City

The Manhattan Bridge is close by.

I was so happy when I went online and found the Cup & Saucer Luncheonette, located on Canal Street, which was about a two minute walk from our hotel. The seating is very limited but this only added to the cosy atmosphere, and the place was spotless. The breakfast was served quickly and came with an orange juice and a toasted New York bagel. The owner was very warm and friendly and extremely organized in a small work space. Everyone who worked there seemed to take great pride in wearing the white chef uniforms with matching hats. This is a real jewel in the hub-bub of Chinatown. It's as though time stopped still here.....definitely stop by when you're in the neighborhood.

89 Canal Street (between Eldridge Street and Allen Street)

New York, NY 10002

(212) 925-3298