Pickled beetroot and beetroot and apple chutney

This likely isn't the most interesting post for the cake lovers but it'll be handy for me to refer to if I make these again, which I think I will do. Also, we all eat savoury things occasionally, right?

My Dad grew a lot of beetroot last year which got divided between myself and my eldest brother. He pickled his portion and I pickled some but also made a big batch of beetroot and apple chutney.

Admittedly I wish I had made more pickle and less chutney as the pickle was way less labour-intensive to make. For some reason I decided to make a double portion of the chutney and it involved SO. MUCH. CHOPPING.

The resulting chutney is very tasty, but it would need to be for all that chopping! It's great on top of a homemade beef burger, lovely with quiche or a punchy little accompaniment to a cheese and cooked meat snack.

The recipe came from an old book with recipes from people around the local county. I believe this is the first thing I've made from it despite my mum having owned it for many years. I'm pretty sure it's older than me! As usual I'll put the recipe at the bottom of the post.

I had never made pickled beetroot before and was astonished by how simple it is to make. Literally just cooked beetroot, vinegar and sugar. I followed this recipe for my pickling quantities and made two batches which produced 4 decent sized jars. I definitely see more pickling in my future. I love pickled beetroot in general and this recipe did not disappoint.

I had originally planned to make my pickle and chutney before Christmas but as usual ran out of time, so this was a new year surprise for the family last month. A nice change (or break) from all the sweets and chocolates too.

Beetroot and apple chutney

2 lb cooked beetroot

2 lb peeled and cored apples (I think I used 3 or 4 Bramley cooking apples)

1 lb onions

1 lb raisins

1/2 lb sultanas 

1/2 lb sugar (I used granulated)

2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp cinnamon

1 Pt vinegar (I used distilled white)

Salt (I used flakes)

Cook your beetroot, peel off the skins, then dice into a large bowl and set aside.

Finely chop the apples and onions and cook on a low heat in the vinegar.

Add the fruit, spices, sugar and salt. Simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Mix in the beetroot after the mix has cooled slightly. 

Spoon into prepared jars and cover tightly.

Beetroot brownies

It seems that these are rather controversial brownies, folk either love them or hate them. I researched a couple of recipes and the one on BBC Good Food website had very mixed reviews. I used a recipe from Helen's blog and I like them. The beetroot makes a super moist brownie and I don't think you really taste it, but my brother didn't like them because of the beetroot flavour, but then again he doesn't particularly like chocolate so he's hardly going to be a brownie lover in the first place.

The only changes I made to the recipe were adding an extra egg (as mine were very small) and using two small tins instead of a large one, hence the slimmer looking brownies.

It's a shame the photos don't show how red the brownies are in real life. I wish I took a photo of the batter, it was a crazy colour!

I must admit that I still can't quite get my head round the recipe. Beetroot in a brownie. Red brownies! Then again, carrot can be put in cake and it tastes brilliant. I think the recipe was a bit faffy for my liking, having to boil, peel and puree the beetroot before even doing the brownie mixture, but then again I'm just impatient. It was certainly a fun recipe to try!

Spiced beetroot & orange chutney

My aunty gave me some surplus beetroot this week so I saw it as an excellent excuse for trying my hand at chutney. I've never made any before, but got a chutney/jam making kit for my birthday last month which I've been itching to use. The recipe came from BBC Good Food if anyone else has a glut of beetroot which needs using.

What a lovely smell this made in the kitchen! In hindsight I did cut my beetroot on the chunky side, it probably should be much finer, but there was only so long I could be bothered standing at the kitchen sink chopping messy beetroot. I forgot to buy gloves to wear whilst chopping so I wore clear sandwich bags instead!

I also fancy making some beetroot and chocolate brownies. I keep hearing about them but have never tried them. Wish me luck!