Apple & Tomato Chutney

We are having a 'Pickle day' on the allotment at the end of Oct. Chris is organising it. It is going to be a swop day for produce and/or advice. I have to admit I have never pickled anything before and can only remember tasting a glutinous brown goo once and have never tried it again! I thought I should try something for the pickle day and so what I brought home from the allotment the other day was sitting there and I thought what the hell....! Chris had left me a recipe ( pinned up in the greenhouse) for beetroot pickle but Angela had tried tomato chutney using the red and green tomatoes. i went online and found a simple recipe on www.sausagelinks.co.uk ( lots of lovely easy recipes) The one I used is:

1kg Cooking apples,peeled and cored

1kg Tomatoes (red or green or a mix)

I also added the small green peppers I had

500ml vinegar

500g onions

250 grm dried fruit

500grm soft brown sugar

half teaspoon: cayenne pepper, mustard powder, ground ginger or other spices

Or you can cheat and use a pickling bag of mixed spices (bought)

Finely chop apple, tomato and onion, can be done in a food processor, use half of the vinegar and put everything in a large saucepan.

Simmer uncovered for 2 hours adding remains of vinegar as it cooks.

The chutney is done when a spoon drawn across leaves a clear trail with no traces of liquid.

Pour in to hot clean jars and store in a cool dark place for at least 1 month before eating.

This made 6 jars, it smelled devine ,looked nice as I had left some chunky bits instead of processing all of the ingredients, it did taste Ok too. I gave son in law Rob a jar to try when ready so if he suffers no ill effects..... Now to try the beetroot pickle