Sweet Pickled Zucchini Relish

After eight years without a garden, we enjoyed a summer of fresh zucchini.  Two plants were ample to keep us and the neighbors in zucchini all summer! 

Now we can keep enjoying it as sweet pickled zucchini relish. 

The recipe is kind of vague - just how big is a large zucchini???  If you have doubts about it, use this recipe from the National Center for Home Food Preservation:  Summer Squash Relish

Annette's Sweet Pickled Zucchini Relish

                                                   Grind together:

                                                    * 5 large zucchini

                                                    * 3 sweet red peppers

                                                    * 3 green peppers

                                                    * 5 onions

                                                    Add:

                                                    * 1/2 c. salt

                                                    * 1 t. alum

                                            

                                        Allow to sit overnight.  Drain off the juice,
                                        then rinse in cold water.  Squeeze out as much

                                        liquid as possible.  May use a cheesecloth bag.

                                                    Bring to a boil:

                                                    * 5 c. sugar
                                                    * 5 c. apple cider vinegar
                                                    * 2 T. celery seed
                                                    * 2 T. mustard seed
                                                    * 2 T. turmeric

                                        Add strained vegetables and simmer for 20

                                        minutes.  Pack the relish into sterilized canning 

                                        jars, leaving 1/4" headspace.  Wipe the rims
                                        with a clean, wet cloth.  Add sterilized new lids,

                                        finger-tighten the rings, then process in a hot

                                        water bath for 15 minutes to seal. 

                                        (10 minutes if elevation is below 1000 ft.

                                        20 minutes if elevation is above 6000 ft.)

                                        Allow jars to cool.  Refrigerate any jars that
                                        do not seal.  

This relish is great on hot dogs, burgers or bratwurst, or sandwiches.  We like it best in tuna sandwiches!  Mmmm!

Check out these other delicious Zucchini recipes: Zucchini Bread, Lemon Zucchini Loaf, Spaghetti Zoodles, and Quiche.   

These and 150 more great recipes can be found in our Family Recipe Book, "Home Cookin'"!

Order HERE ↓

$16 + Free Shipping

Now, what do I do with all of those green tomatoes??  Stay tuned!

~ the Momma

Wassail!

♫ Here we come a wassailing, among the leaves so green...♪♫♪

'Tis the season for gathering with friends, singing carols, and drinking hot cider.  Historically, Wassail refers both to the Old English greeting 'Waes Hail'  'be you healthy', and to the drink of wassail, a hot mulled cider (made with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and topped with slices of toast).  It was traditionally drunk as part of "wassailing" - a ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year.   These days it refers more to the drink rather than the greeting.

My version of "wassail" does not contain mulled spices, or apple cider, or any kind of alcohol.  It is just a good hot drink, great for winter parties.  This was the recipe we used at my wedding reception.  No muss, no fuss.  Tastes soooo good.  It's also 116 calories per cup, with about 30g of sugar, but hey.  Less calories than a can of soda.  Ü  I'll be making a batch for our family party this weekend, and we'll probably have leftovers for our anniversary next week.

Bring to a boil:

3 c. sugar

4 c. water

Add:

1  12-oz can frozen orange juice concentrate

3/4 c. lemon juice

4 quarts water

Return to a boil, then add:

1 t. almond extract

Serve hot.

 ♫♪ ...Love and joy come to you,

and to you, your wassail too,

And God bless you and send you a Happy New Year,

And God send you a Happy New Year!...♫