Processing time seems awfully short on that one, especially considering the fat. Hi Robin. I'm not generally a fan of green tomato anything; to me most green tomato recipes reflect a kind of end-of-harvest-desperation. But here's a green tomato mincemeat that does pass muster. It's been called "sinful." Green Tomato, Apple & Pear Mincemeat Use completely green tomatoes; they should not show white, yellow or pinkish cheeks. A pint will fill an 8-inch pie. With the addition of diced fresh apple, some nuts, a few snipped dried apricots, a dollop of rum or brandy, it will fill a 9-inch pie. 3 quarts coarsely chopped completely green tomatoes, scrubbed and trimmed of stem scars 1 Tablespoon canning and pickling salt 1 1/2 quarts diced, peeled and cored firm, tart apples, the firmer the better 1 quart diced, peeled and cored firm, slightly underripe pears 2 1/2 cups dark seedless raisins Grated zest (no white pith) and chopped pulp of 1 large or 2 medium oranges Grated zest of 1 1/2 large lemons 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup undiluted frozen apple juice concentrate, thawed 3 1/2 cups (packed) light brown sugar 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 cup dark rum, preferably Jamaican 1. Stir chopped green tomatoes and salt together, then scrape into a colander and let drain for 2 hours. 2. Combine drained tomatoes with all other ingredients except the rum. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat and cook mincemeat, uncovered, stirring often, until thick enough to mound in a spoon. Stir often to prevent sticking at the end of cooking. 3. Stir in the rum and ladle boiling-hot inot hot, clean pint canning jars, leaving 1/2" headspace; remove air bubbles. Seal with two-piece canning lids and process BWB 30 minutes. This comes from Helen Witty's Fancy Pantry, one of the best (if not the best) preserving books ever. I increased the BWB time by 5 minutes to reflect currant standards. Carol

Well you don't have to use sugar. It is there just to off-set the strong vinegar bite a bit. It only plays a very small, if any, safety role anyway. But you sure need to use a tested recipe when it comes to knowing how much vinegar unless you plan to use straight 5% vinegar. The taste would be really off-putting to me with white vinegar and no sugar but taste is a matter of preference. If you like them that sharp and acidic then go for it. You can always add a bit of sugar after opening if they are too sharp. Personally, given your list of ingredients I'd use the Pickled Dilled Okra recipe and sub the green tomatoes for the okra. The problem with "Mom recipes" is that we often forget, or never knew, exactly what all was in them. She may have put sugar in when you weren't looking. ;) Dave

Last year late in the season I had cabbage loppers eating my tomatoes. They are worse than the hornworms. They multiply real fast. The hornworms at least eat the leaves and some tomatoes. Karyl ===== Here is a link that might be useful: Cabbage Looper Photo

Fried green tomatoes are a Southern delicacy. They're easy to make too, just use the same basic technique used for pan-frying lots of things. (okra, zucchini, chicken, chicken-fried-steak, catfish...) Slice the tomatoes into thick-ish slices (you want them thick, but not so thick that they don't cook all the way through once the outside is done). Dip first in seasoned flour, then in an eggwash (beaten egg and milk), then in cornmeal. Let them sit for a little while to get the breading to stick well. Pan-fry them in a cast-iron skillet with enough oil or fat to come halfway up the tomato slices. Fry on one side until golden brown, then turn and fry on the other side until that side's done. (I've also heard you can do them in the oven for a "healthier" version, but I haven't tried that yet.) Usually served as a side dish, though lately I've been making sandwiches out of mine after having some tasty fried green tomato sandwiches at a local restaurant. They had a version of a BLT with fried green tomatoes, with bacon, lettuce, chipotle mayo, on toasted sourdough bread. Another option is a patty-melt like version I had at another restaurant with melted swiss cheese.