Mouthwatering Courgette, Zucchini or Marrow Chutney Recipe

This is the latest addition to my list of methods and recipes for making various delicious chutneys and preserves. As you have probably realised by now, making chutneys and preserves can be a very rewarding hobby, not to mention a very practical way of preserving your surplus fruit and vegetables in order to be able to enjoy them over the Winter months as well. Chutneys in particular make an excellent Christmas gift and are a fantastic accompaniment to cold meats such as turkey or ham, hot meats such as sausages and burgers or simply added to your cheese and crackers. The beauty of these recipes is you can adjust them to suit your own tastes, maybe add a few chillies to spice them up, or possibly another  fruit or vegetable to alter the flavour slightly. As time goes on you will soon accumulate a selection of your own favourite recipes and will no doubt have your family, friends and neighbours knocking on your door each year in the hope you might send another jar their way.

2.75kg or 6lb of courgettes, zucchini or marrows

1.7kg or 3lb 12oz of onions

1.7kg or 3lb 12oz of tomatoes

1.7kg or 3lb 12oz of brown sugar

1.7 litres or 3 UK pints of distilled malt vinegar

3 complete bulbs of garlic

A 5cm or 2inch piece of fresh ginger peeled

1.5 teaspoons of cayenne pepper

1.5 tablespoons of English mustard powder such as Coleman's (if you like a slightly spicy chutney)

3 teaspoons of salt

3 teaspoons of pepper

Peel the tomatoes by blanching in boiling water for about thirty seconds or until the skins split, submerging in cold water and then sliding the skins from the fruit and discarding them

Chop all your vegetables including the tomatoes and place in the large saucepan

Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan

Bring to the boil and then reduce the heat and allow to simmer gently (uncovered), for approximately 4 hours until the mixture has reduced and thickened. The mixture will be at the correct consistency when a path created by the wooden spoon takes a second or so to 'close up again'

Meanwhile wash all your other utensils, jars etc

Place the jars and the stainless steel jam funnel the correct way up on a baking tray and place in the oven on 140 degree Celsius for about 10-20 minutes to sterilise

Place the lids, tongs and the ladle into a saucepan of boiling water to sterilise

Remove jars from the oven and place the baking tray next to your saucepan of chutney

Use the sterilised ladle to fill each jar through the jam funnel to within about 1.5cm of the top, (being very careful not to touch the inner surfaces of either the jar or the funnel to avoid contamination)

Use the sterilised tongs to remove the lids from the boiling water and place on top of each jar. Hold the jar in a cloth and tighten the lids

Leave to cool overnight before labelling with the contents and the date the following day