Green tomato pickle

The major thing I noted with gardening in colder regions is the need to know the harvest time. we can't wait for all the tomatoes to ripe in the vine. But we have to hurry to pick them up before the first frost hits. First few times I wondered how to ripen them at home , but Wiki helped me and I am doing better now:) Still I embrace some cooking with green unripe tomatoes too, to enjoy them fresh. Here is one pickle I made with raw unripe green tomatoes and it tasted similar to mango pickle. We finished a bottle within a month and I am planning to prepare more:)

Green tomato pickle

Our homegrown tomatoes

Ingredients:
Unripe tomato - 5  (1/2 kg)
Sesame oil - 4 tbsp
Red hot chilly powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
mustard seeds - 1 tsp
hing (asafoetida) - 1/2 tsp
salt - to taste (approx 1.5 tbsp)
vinegar - 2 tbsp

To powder and grind:
fenugreek (methi / venthayam) - 1 tsp
mustard - 1 tsp

Method:
Wash and clean the tomatoes. Wipe with a clean cloth and dry it in open air to remove any moisture for an hour or more.
Chop the tomatoes to small pieces.
In a wok, dry roast the mustard and methi seeds. Grind to a fine powder.
Heat the sesame oil (or any oil) in a kadai (wok). Add the mustard seeds and let them start to crackle. At the same time add hing, chopped tomato, turmeric powder and saute till it gets thick.
When the oil starts showing off the edges, add the red chilly powder and salt. Stir well till the raw smell of red chilly powder goes.
(we can add the red chilly powder in the beginning also, but it will emit a lot of hot fumes that no one can stand. So better add it this way).
Add the prepared powder, mix well and switch off.
After few minutes, add the vinegar and mix again.
Green tomato pickle is ready!

Note:
Keep refrigerated and always use a dry spoon to handle.

Serving suggestions:
Serve as side dish with curd rice.

Chocolate chip mint icecream

Some years ago, I tasted  this mint icecream in Malaysia for the first time.  While I was trying to figure out that newer taste, I could see hubby admiring it more and more. So I too thought it as good.....plain vanilla has been my favorite mostly :) After coming to USA, he started buying tubs of mint cream from ALDI. I would take only the choco chips from his bowl and that's my favorite part in it:)

After I started making icecreams at home, many a times I wanted to make chocolate chip mint icecream, but somehow intimidated to make with raw eggs as per original American version (that's another better version anyways). Then I used my quick method of condensed milk version and it tasted very delicious. I took hints from many websites on buying mint flavor (real mint juice may make the icecream slushy....I like slushy too). (Till then I thought of grinding mint leaves......which could have been more suitable for nature lovers like me....anyways I will try with caution next time ). I thought of making a very successful version at first to impress my DH and I couldn't take chances:) He totally loves this icecream and I am glad that I tried it:)

Chocolate chip mint Ice cream.

Chocolate chips before melting.

Mint icecream before adding chocolate. Mint extract and green food colors I used.

Ingredients:
Pure mint extract - 1/2 tsp (McCormick brand)
Sweetened Condensed Milk - 14 oz can (400 gm)
Whipped Topping - 8 oz  (225 gm)
salt - 1/8 tsp
green food color - 3 drops
dark chocolate chips - 1/2 cup

Method:

Mix condensed milk, salt, mint extract, green food color in a large mixing bowl.
Then add the whipped topping and mix gently.
Transfer this to a freezer-safe container .
Cover and freeze for 1 hour.

After an hour melt the chocolate in a double boiler or microwave.
I melt the chocolate by putting the choco chips inside a zip lock cover, zip it, microwave in reheat mode for 10 second , 10 second , 10 second. Every 10 second, take out and see if it gets little softer.
Take out, make a small cut in a corner.
Squeeze and pour the chocolate into the almost frozen icecream. Mix gently without breaking the chocolate layers. Then pour all the chocolate. Keep frozen for 4-5 hours.
Then serve as dessert.
Creamy rich mint icecream is ready !

Note:
I have made a little variation by adding tooti frooti (dry fruits) instead of chocolate in a small bowl. That too tastes good. But mint and chocolate combination is perfect for us.