USES FOR GREEN TOMATOES

New Zealand Listener, Volume 18, Issue 463, 7 May 1948, Page 22

USES FOR GREEN TOMATOES

REEN tomatoes, caught by early light frost, must be brought indoors. If they are mature and just about to turn colour, they will ripen at cool room-temperature, spread out on shelves in a shed or pantry, or lined up on a window-sill. But immature green tomatoes will not ripen and are likely ‘to rot if kept very tong. It is best to cook or pickle these soon after picking. I learned in America (from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that green tomatoes are delicious cooked in some of the red. tomato recipes. For instance: Broiled or Baked Wash them and cut in halves across; place cut-side up in a baking dish, brush with a little melted butter or bacon-fat, sprinkle with pepper and salt, and sugar to taste, and put under hot grill, or into moderate oven (375 degrees) until cooked and tender, about ¥% hour. If using grill, have the tomatoes about 214 inches from the flame, so as to cook properly. During the last few minutes they may be sprinkled with fine breadcrumbs, grated. cheese, or wheat-flakes, The sprinkling of sugar is a good tip. Scalloped Green Tomatoes Green peppers are in the shops now, and are good included in this dish. Chop up green tomatoes to make 4 cupfuls, and combine with 1% cup minced onion, 2 tablespoons minced green pepper (if desired); 1 teaspoon salt; a shake of pepper, and a tablespoon of sugar. Place in a baking dish a good layer of this mixture, then a layer of soft breadcrumbs, dotted with a little butter or fat (bacon-fat is nice). Repeat the layers till all used up, finishing with crumbs; dot over with more fat and bake in moderate oven (375 degrees) for 30 to 45 minutes. For the last 10 minutes, 42 cup of grated cheese may be sprinkled over the top. For Breakfast Slice green tomatoes thickly, and fry, with the breakfast bacon, Some people flour them lightly first. Baked with Meat Green tomatoes are very good halved crosswise and baked with a roast joint of meat, like potatoes. Just sprinkle lightly with sugar, salt and pepper. In Stews Green tomatoes cut in thick slices and added to a beef or mutton stew give a new and good flavour. With Curry | 7 This is a recipe using left-over meat. Chop an onion or two and fry in 3 or 4 tablespoons of good dripping. Add about a dessertspoon of curry powder, a little salt, a dash of sugar, and stir well, Add about 4 cupfuls of sliced green tomatoes, cover, and cook gently until tender. Then stir in 3 cups of chopped, cooked

meat, and heat thoroughly. If the mixture is too thick, thin it slightly with meat-broth, gravy or water. Serve with boiled rice or macaroni. Green Tomato Pickle One quart vinegar; 6lb. green tomatoes; 3lb. onions; % pint golden syrup; 2. tablespoons curry powder; 1 teaspoon spice; 1 teaspoon cayenne papper; 2 tablespoons salt. Cut up tomatoes,

sprinkle with salt, stand 6 hours. Strain, cover with vinegar, bring to the_boil. Add onions and all spices and syrup. Simmer 1 hour and thicken with flour. Bottle hot. Green Tomato Marmalade Six pounds green tomatoes; 6 lemons minced, skins and all; 6lb. sugar. Slice tomatoes, add lemon, and a very little water. Cook 5 minutes. Stir in sugar, boil fast till it ‘will set when tested. Green Tomato Mincemeat This is good used in a special cake recipe (below) as well as in mince pies. Be sure to seal thoroughly airtightwax alone will not be safe. Combine all the ingredients and cook slowly until tender and slightly thickened. Stir frequently. Fill into’ hot jars. Makes about 3 quarts. About 26 medium-sized finely chopped green tomatoes; 9 or 10 medium, chopped and peeled tart apples; 1lb. raisins; 4 tablespoons minced candied peel; 1 tablespoon cinnamon; 2 teaspoons salt; 4% teaspoon each of powdered allspice and cloves; 244 cups each of brown and white sugar (may use all 5 of brown if desired); %4 cup vinegar and 4% cup lemon juice (or 1 cup vinegar); 2 cups water. Mincemeat Cake Blend together 2/3rds cup of shortening; 1 teaspoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons grated orange. rind; add gradually 1 cup sugar and 1/3rd cup marmalade or jelly, creaming well after each addition. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating well after each, Sift together 2% cups flour; 142 teaspoons baking powder; 12 teaspoon baking soda and 1% teaspoon of salt. Add this to the creamed mixture a little at a time alternately with 3 cups of the tomato-mincemeat (above)-beginning and ending with the flour. Add lastly 1 cup of chopped nuts. Bake in loaf-pan in slow oven (325 degrees) for 144 hours approximately. Cool ' (continued on next, page)

(continued from previous page) for ¥%2 hour before removing from tin. May use 2 cups mincemeat and 1 cup raisins instead of 3 cups mincemeat, if desired,