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Poor Mother

Recipe: Apple and date chutney

Cooking

Find this recipe at Yummly
Apple Date Chutney
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Yield: 4 half pint preserving jars
Ingredients
  • 4 cups peeled, cored, and chopped apples (about 3-4 medium apples)
  • 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar
  • 3/4 cup stoned and chopped dates (about 6 ounces whole dates with pits)
  • 3/4 cup minced shallot
  • 1/2 cup dried currants
  • 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
  1. Combine the apples, vinegar, dates, shallots, currants, ginger, salt, chili flakes, cardamom, star anise, and cinnamon sticks in a low, wide pan.
  2. Stir to combine and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-high.
  3. Cook, stirring regularly, for 40 to 50 minutes, until the chutney no longer looks watery and the apples have softened enough that you can mash them with the back of your spoon.
  4. When chutney has thickened sufficiently, remove the pan from the heat.
  5. Remove cinnamon stick and star anise pieces.
  6. Funnel into clean, hot jars, cover with discs and screw down rings loosely. Stand hot filled jars on a folded cloth in a large pan with water halfway up the jar, and simmer. Check water levels regularly and top up as necessary.
  7. When time is up, remove jars from pan and place them on a dry folded kitchen towel, tighten rings and leave to cool.
  8. Once jars are cool enough to handle, remove rings and test seals. Sealed jars can be stored at room temperature for up to one year. Any unsealed jars should be kept in the fridge and used promptly.
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Unusual and challenging sewing techniques

Unusual and challenging sewing techniques

I was having a conversation with somebody recently about the different techniques we use in sewing clothes. So I began to make a list. I'm not talking about the basics like laying out a pattern, cutting, simple darts. They are important for sure, but I'm more...

read more
2026 Sudoku wardrobe contest

2026 Sudoku wardrobe contest

This is an ongoing post, and I'll update it as I go The 2026 wardrobe contest organised by Sewing Pattern Review is the perfect opportunity for me to use up my (huge) stash and also to sew a new wardrobe after big weight loss over the last 12 months. I also need to...

read more
Revisiting my youth

Revisiting my youth

..through the medium of Vintage Sewing Patterns. I discovered this classic deep in my stash recently. Apparently I was a size 12 back when I was 18 years old and sewed this the last time. I loved this pattern, especially the jacket which was so cool. I made it from a...

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