Green Tomato Pickles

It's frustrating to have your tomato plants loaded with green tomatoes when the first frost is predicted. What does one do with all those green tomatoes? When we visit my husband's sister we usually take her out to eat at the local "fish house" which serves green tomato pickles with their fish dinners. To me, they are a tasty accompaniment to the crispy fried fish. For anyone interested, here's a recipe for Green Tomato Pickles.

Green Tomato Pickles

1 gallon green tomatoes

3 cups brown sugar

1/2 dozen large onions

1/2 lemon

1 Tablespoon mustard seed

1 Tablespoon allspice

1 Tablespoon celery seed

1 Tablespoon whole cloves

1 Tablespoon ground mustard

3 cups vinegar

1 Tablespoon whole black pepper

Slice tomatoes and onions thin. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup salt. Let stand overnight in crock.

Drain and place in large pot.

Tie all spices in cheesecloth bag. Slice the lemons. Chop hot pepper.

Mix all together and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring often. Remove cheesecloth bag.

Pour into sterilized hot jars and seal at once.