EASY TO MAKE SPICY BEETROOT CRANBERRY GINGER & ORANGE CHUTNEY
January 15, 2010 in Uncategorized
Its Friday and today is my last day of babysitting the grandsons all day. Sweet daughter has had a temporary job since mid December and so I stepped into the gap. I cannot say it has been easy with a 6 year old and a 22 month old throughout the holidays and I have fallen into bed exhausted each night but with a heart so full of love and a mind overflowing with happy memories. We have shared much laughter and tears, falls all over the place – including Jay falling into the jacuzzi – oh be still my beating heart!! Tyler my hero saved his little brother that day by jumping in and holding his head above water until I could haul him out! Then there was the time I found the same little monkey standing on the dining room table eating a white nectarine that he had stolen from the fruit bowl (he’s a real fruitbat hehe!!) And a favourite trick is to climb out of his clip on high chair and onto the kitchen counter!! I tells ya, one has to have 6 sets of eyes tracking his movements at all times!!And he has absolutely no respect for freshly vacuumed and mopped floors. Those bright shiny tiles obviously just beg to be spilled on and for dirty little feet prints tracking all through the juice, water, bits of spat out fruit etc. But the sheer delight on his little face and the joy of hearing him sing and watching him dance when I crank up the sound for Lady Gaga’s Pokerface just makes up for everything else……I think I am actually going to miss them!!! Of course it IS Pinky Friday as well so Ty will be staying over until tomorrow hehe…….a-baking we shall go then. We have a very dear friend who is turning 50 tomorrow and I have been commissioned to do chocolate cupcakes for her so that is what we will be baking.
So, I thank you all for being so patient with me while I have been unable to blog much or to visit most of you. I will be remedying that asap!! My wounds from my own nasty fall almost 3 weeks ago have healed well. Still have a bit of bruising on my knees but the scar on my forehead has healed very well and I am rubbing on Nimue scar cream twice a day and it is looking very good!! Brownieboy is back to full days at work and loving the challenges but he does get very tired and also falls onto the bed at 5pm when he gets home to give his back a rest. So all in all things are not going too bad in brownieville. The year has not started as well as we would’ve liked it to but we will just deal with each issue one step at a time!
Early in December one of my favourite bloggers, Bethany over at Dirty Kitchen Secrets, posted a recipe and great easy to follow photographs for something that brought a twinkle to my eye. I raced off and gathered what I could of her ingredients, plus some of my own……you all know that I HAVE to pimp as I go don’t you?? and made my own batch of this absolutely brilliant chutney….WOW!! I am loving it!! Do give it a try, if you are a beetroot lover you are going to go crazy for this!! Thankyou so much Beth for introducing me to it 
) It was easy to make and so worth it!
SPICY BEETROOT CRANBERRY GINGER & ORANGE CHUTNEY
previously blogged here
1kg raw beetroot
250g Light Brown Sugar
Tiny Pinch of Ground Cloves
1tsp of Ground Cinnamon
¼ tsp Ground Coriander
Tiny pinch Fennel Seeds
1 Tbs Grated Ginger
3 Oranges- zested & juiced
250ml Red Wine Vinegar
250ml Water
2 Garlic Cloves- minced
2 Onions- diced
2 Red Chilies – finely slice 1 and leave 1 whole (use more if you want it spicier)
3 Granny Smith Apples- peeled, cored & finely diced
100g Dried Cranberries
2 Tbs Finely Chopped Dill – optional
Sterile preserving jars with lids
Preheat oven to 200oC
Place scrubbed beetroot in an oven tray, drizzle with a bit of olive oil and roast for about 25 minutes until easily pierced with a sharp knife or skewer
Allow to cool until you can handle them
While you are doing this you can prepare the rest of the ingredients – ie chop onions apples, zest and juice the oranges etc.
Peel and finely dice the cooled beetroots
Place all of the ingredients (excepting for the beetroot) in a large deep saucepan – I used my pasta pot and it was ideal
Bring to a boil
Add the diced beetroot and bring back to boil, lower heat and simmer for about 40 minutes until the sauce has reduced and thickened – stir often
Stir in the finely chopped Dill 5 minutes before the end. I didn’t as I never had any.
Bottle and seal well.
Allow to stand for at least a month before enjoying
Delightful on crackers with soft cheeses or as an accompaniment to any meat, hot or cold. Also makes a fab chicken sandwich )
Enjoy the weekend blogland.
Special hugs & prayers to our lovely friend Batty and her family today. They said their final goodbyes to Papabat today at 2pm.
browniegirl xxx
Edit: I have been chatting to Markella from Land of the Gods blog – remember her??? She sends love to everyone, has not been able to blog because of work. She also sends condolences to Batty so I am passing those messages on to you all.
browniegirl
davidsdance said on January 15, 2010
Nee wat browniegirl – what can i be using instead of beets – that is one thing i cannot eat – too much at boarding school!
FleurinFrance said on January 15, 2010
Wishing you a relaxing weekend
ninatimm said on January 15, 2010
I must make a couple of jars to put on the kitchen shelf for when a sandwich needs lifting and a chunk of meat needs a face lift….
Glad you enjoyed the kiddies…..but BG enjoy the rest now girl. We MUST meet!!!
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
It’s becoming rather urgent Nina…..hehe!!! You won’t be sorry if you make a few jars of this stuff. Its addictive!! xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
It IS douglas….thanx xx
chantellebeyers said on January 15, 2010
*JustMe wonders if Madmom with blog the recipe and the results*
chantellebeyers said on January 15, 2010
I LOVE LOVE LOVE beetroot! Thanks for sharing
*copy, paste, print*
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Do try this JustMe…it is just delightful. xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Like JustMe browniegirl also wonders if madmom will blog the recipe and results
) Thanx so much MM. Have a good weekend and enjoy the cuppicakes..xxx
bkehdy said on January 15, 2010
Oh Colleen such great news that you are enjoying the chutney. I’m afraid I didn’t make enough the first time around- the jars were emptied within Christmas week.
janicetripepi said on January 15, 2010
DEFINATELY making this i am a total beetroothead. I think Tyler is a total super-hero and has earned one or two of them chocolate cupcakes. What wonderful memories you have made with your two little angels. Very very special. Your daughter is blessed to have a mum so supportive. Enjoy a rest tomorrow and sunday!!! xx jan
canda1 said on January 15, 2010
Sounds like you need a weekend off!!! Haha, you will miss them for sure!!! That looks so good, we dont get cranberry, I am sure I can substitute with raisins? Have a lovely weekend my friend. xxxxxx
hutton said on January 15, 2010
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Thanx so much Flower. You too xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
You dont know what you are missing friend. It is nothing like boarding school beetroot, I promise. It is citrusy delicious
) xx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Nah not at all!
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Hehe…I will say thanx to her. Love you
) xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Dankie Ghaap. Lekker naweek vir jou xx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Im loving it Beth…its nearly finished and I am also off to get more beets so I can make double….hugs and thanx so much for taking the trouble to visit. xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Thanx for the rating
) xx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Thanx so much for your lovely words Jan. Much appreciated. Hehe…I am also a beetroothead as you call it. Have you tried the beetroot hummus from woolies?? Yummy
) Have a great weekend xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Thanx so much MT&T….I need a rest away from home hehe…Raisins or sultanas would do great I reckon. The original recipe didnt have anything but I fancied the idea so added them. Its just so delicious
) Hugs and have a great weekend xxx
Collywolly said on January 15, 2010
Hey hutton…. ;o) xxx
silverwave said on January 16, 2010
‘ allow to stand for at least a month’? Bwahaha, not in my world!
tandy.sinclair said on January 16, 2010
thankfully, mess can always be cleaned – what lovely memories you have made. Super weekend BIG HUGS xxx
Collywolly said on January 16, 2010
LOL!!! You can start eating it the same day Addled…I did but the one I opened yesterday has fully developed flavours and is a bit smoother on the palate hehe..but by all means…..go ahead. Enjoy!! xxx
Collywolly said on January 16, 2010
Too true inspiration…we had great times. Hugs and happy weekend to you too xxx
santanajewels said on January 16, 2010
ohhh this looks nice , I must make this BG.. Glad to hear you almost healed and that BB is up and about …have a super day dear one and relax
*hugs*
CelticMom said on January 16, 2010
Drool – Beetroot Hummus??? I havent seen that yet…… I love both of those things, must go to Woolies in the morning
Must be lovely and pink!
Collywolly said on January 18, 2010
I hope you found the hummus Celtic Mom, it is delightfully pink hehe. Have a good week xxx
Collywolly said on January 18, 2010
Thanx so much Santana. I hope you enjoy this delicious stuff as much as I am
) Hugs to you too xxx
Collywolly said on January 18, 2010
I do hope you try it GH…It is one of those recipes to keep and try before you turn 50!! LOL! Yes I am feeling much more energised today after a weekend of mostly relaxing!! I love my boys to bits!! Hugs for the new week xx
rosegarden said on January 18, 2010
Do you think it would work without the cranberries? Definitely won’t be able find any here where I live.
Ps. I think you are a SPECTACULER granny.
Collywolly said on January 18, 2010
Yes, it will definitely work without the cranberries. If you wish you could add sultanas but the original recipe had neither. Thank you so much for the PS. Much appreciated. I wish I could do more actually
) xxx
faridahb said on January 18, 2010
If ever I get round to making a home-made chutney, it will be this one!!
Collywolly said on January 18, 2010
Fari you MUST get round to it hehe. It is divine
) xx
Collywolly said on January 18, 2010
Welcome Skulls and thanx so much. It is really easy to make and so worth it xx
mandiebas said on January 20, 2010
Kom nou eers weer by jou blog uit. Skuus, ek’s nie so lekker by nie – te veel om te doen.
Collywolly said on January 20, 2010
Ai ek ken daai storie Mandolina. Ek was ook maar skaars. Leeker om jou weer te sien xxx
BloggAlot said on January 20, 2010
Easier just to come and visit you and try it then.
Collywolly said on January 20, 2010
Well. there is that too hehe…hello Bloggsie xxx