John's recipe for success

Dec 22 2011 By Antonia Jones

john murray

JOHN Murray and wife Anne of Handbridge got an early Christmas treat today.

John's Christmas Cranberry Stout Pickle came first in our Chronicle festive recipe competition and he picked up a s50 food hamper as his prize thanks to Chester butchers CS Austin on Northgate Street.

Thanks to everyone who entered. John's award-winning recipe is below.

Ingredients
 
1Kg cooking apples, peeled and cored
500g unripe tomatoes
1Kg onions
500g carrots, peeled
2 courgettes
500g swede, peeled
2 leeks
600g raw cane molasses
1Kg granulated unrefined cane sugar
200g peeled garlic and finely chopped
200g fresh ginger peeled and finely chopped
300g sultanas
200g dried cranberries
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tsps mustard
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cayenne
1650ml (3 pints) malt vinegar
1100ml (2 pints) stout
 
Method
 
1. Cut the apples, tomatoes, onions, carrots, courgettes, swede and leeks into chunks, then coarsely chop in a food processor.
 
2. Add to a large stockpot with the molasses, sugar, garlic, ginger, sultanas, salt and spices and blend well.
 
3. Stir in the vinegar and the stout.
 
4. Place on stove and bring to the boil then simmer gently in an open pan, stirring occasionally, for about 3-4 hours until the desired consistency is reached.
 
5. Place into sterile pre-heated jars and store in a cool dark place for at least a week to mature.