There comes a point every fall when you look at the garden and realize the tomatoes have not received the memo that summer is ending.
There they are — still green, still hanging on the vines, and showing absolutely no urgency whatsoever.
Around here, that isn't necessarily a problem.
It means it's time for green tomato chow.
A Maritime Pantry Favourite
Green tomato chow is one of those old-fashioned preserves that has been made in Maritime kitchens for generations.
Sweet, tangy and a little savoury, it's made with green tomatoes and onions simmered with vinegar, sugar and spices until everything comes together into that familiar relish-like chow.
And perhaps most importantly, it gives all those stubborn green tomatoes at the end of the growing season somewhere useful to go.
At Ruby Roots, that's exactly the kind of recipe we love.
Nothing fancy. Nothing wasted. Just taking what the garden gives us and turning it into something we'll still be enjoying long after the garden has gone to sleep for the winter.
From the Garden to the Pantry
Making chow isn't particularly glamorous.
There are tomatoes to pick, onions to slice, jars to wash and what always seems to be a much larger pot involved than you originally thought you'd need.
Then the kitchen starts smelling like vinegar and spices, every available surface somehow acquires a jar, and you begin questioning why you planted quite so many tomatoes in the first place.
But then the jars start lining up on the counter.
And suddenly it all seems worth it.
There's something satisfying about looking at food you grew yourself and knowing that instead of being lost to the first frost, it's now tucked away in the pantry for another day.
So... What Do You Do With Green Tomato Chow?
If you didn't grow up with chow, this is usually the first question.
The short answer is: more than you'd think.
It's wonderful alongside meats and sausages, spooned onto burgers and sandwiches, served with cheese and crackers, or added to a simple supper anywhere you'd normally reach for a relish.
And every family seems to have its own opinion about the proper way to eat it.
We're not getting involved in that argument. 😂
Preserving a Little Bit of Summer
For us, preserving the harvest isn't about making everything look perfect.
Some tomatoes are bigger than others. Some vegetables grow crooked. Occasionally the garden produces considerably more of something than anyone had planned for.
That's farming.
What matters is making good use of what we grow.
Green tomato chow is one of those recipes that takes something that could easily have been considered the leftovers of the season and turns it into something worth looking forward to.
And around Ruby Roots, we think that's a pretty good way to end a growing season.
From our roots to your table. ❤️