Recipe: P.A.T. Chutney combines plums (or pluots), apricots and tomatoes
Summer brings a mixed bag of fruit as plums, apricots and pluots pile up in my refrigerator drawer. Meanwhile, tomatoes are taking over the counter space.
This easy chutney makes use of them all in a sweet-savory combination. I call it P.A.T. – plum-apricot-tomato – but pluots (which are a cross of plums and apricots) work, too.
No peeling necessary. Roughly chop the fruit and let it cook down slowly. The longer it simmers, the thicker it becomes.
P.A.T. Chutney
Makes 6 cups or half-pint jars
Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 cups onions, finely chopped
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
¼ cup red wine
¼ cup fig balsamic vinegar
½ cup sugar
4 pounds plums, pluots and/or apricots, pitted and roughly chopped
1 pound tomatoes, hulled and roughly chopped
1 cup raisins
1 teaspoon lemon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika
Instructions:
In a large, heavy pot, melt butter or margarine. Sauté chopped onions until soft.
Add broth, wine, balsamic vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil.
Add fruit and tomatoes. Return to boil, then reduce to simmer and cover.
After tomatoes and fruit start to break down, remove cover and add raisins.
Simmer uncovered, stirring often, until chutney is desired thickness. For thick, jamlike consistency, simmer chutney at least 1 hour, stirring often to prevent scorching.
Add pepper, salt and paprika. Adjust seasoning.
Refrigerate or freeze in half-pint containers. This chutney will keep at least a month in a covered jar in the refrigerator.
Or process jars 10 minutes in a hot-water bath.
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Garden Checklist for week of Dec. 8
Make the most of dry weather while we have it this week. Rain is returning.
* Rake leaves away from storm drains and gutters. Recycle those leaves as mulch or add to compost.
* It’s not too late to plant something. Seed wildflowers and plant such spring bloomers as sweet pea, sweet alyssum and bachelor buttons.
* Trees and shrubs can be planted now, especially bare-root varieties such as fruit trees or rose bushes. This gives them plenty of time for root development before spring growth. They also benefit from winter rains.
* Plant bare-root berries, kiwifruit, grapes, artichokes, horseradish and rhubarb.
* Set out cool-weather annuals such as pansies and snapdragons.
* Lettuce, cabbage and broccoli also can be planted now.
* Brighten the holidays with winter bloomers such as poinsettias, amaryllis, calendulas, Iceland poppies, pansies and primroses.
* Keep poinsettias in a sunny, warm location; bring them inside at night or if there’s rain.
* Plant garlic and onions.
* Prune non-flowering trees and shrubs while they’re dormant.
* Clean and sharpen garden tools before storing for the winter.
* Mulch, water and cover tender plants to protect them during threat of frost. Succulent plants are at particular risk if temperatures drop below freezing. Make sure to remove coverings during the day.
* Rake and remove dead leaves and stems from dormant perennials.