Dear Sun Spots: Can you please find a recipe for green tomato relish and any other recipe using green tomatoes? Thank you. – Frank Stone, Livermore.

Answer: In addition to responses from readers, hopefully you and your family will enjoy the following Apple and Green Tomato Relish, which is said to be great on hamburgers and hot dogs, and as a mild salsa for tacos. Ingredients: 8 cups apples, 16 cups green tomatoes, 8 cups onions. Method: Grind the apples, tomatoes and onions, then measure and put into a large kettle. Add the following ingredients and simmer for 1½ hours, stirring frequently: 5 cups sugar, 5 cups vinegar, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons celery seed, 2 teaspoons mustard seed, 1 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon allspice, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon nutmeg. Method: After cooking for 1½ hours, ladle into clean, hot pint-size canning jars. Seal in a hot-water bath for 15 minutes. Makes about 10 pints.

Green Tomato Chutney from www. www.thefoody.com (The Foody UK and Ireland) Makes: 2.7 kg (6 – 7 pounds). Ingredients: 1.8 kg (4 pounds) green tomatoes, 675 g (1½ pound) onions, 450 g (1 pound) cooking apples, 450 g (1 pound) soft brown sugar, 600 ml (1 pint) vinegar, 225 g (8 ounces) seedless raisins or chopped dates, 25 g (1 ounce) root ginger, 8 red chilies, 2 teaspoons salt. Method: Wash and chop the tomatoes, peel and chop the onions. Place the tomatoes, onions, apple and half of the vinegar in a heavy bottomed saucepan, bring to the boil and cook for about 30 minutes or until tender. Place the bruised ginger and chilies in a muslin bag and add to the mixture. Add the raisins or dates. Continue cooking for 1 hour until the mixture starts to thicken, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar, remaining vinegar and salt, stirring until fully dissolved. Continue simmering, pressing the muslin bag occasionally with a wooden spoon, until the mixture becomes thick, stirring occasionally. Remove the muslin bag before potting. Leave for 4 to 6 weeks to allow the flavor to mature.

June Meyer’s Authentic Hungarian Green Tomato Relish Ingredients: 10 pounds of green tomatoes, 1 head of cauliflower or more, 5 pounds of peeled yellow or white onions, 5 green bell peppers, 5 red peppers, 1 cup of pickling salt (no iodine). Brine: 7 cups of vinegar, (white is best), 1 whole box of mixed pickling spices, 1 box of whole mustard seed, 5 cups of sugar. Method: Slice thinly only the tomatoes, onions and cauliflower. Place the cut up vegetables in a large plastic bin. Sprinkle 1 cup of salt over vegetables and let it sit overnight. Drain well and rinse off salt with water. Remove the seeds from the red and green peppers, and cut up into small pieces. Add the rinsed off vegetables and place in large kettle or pot along with the vinegar, mustard seeds. Place the mixed pickling spices in a bag or cloth to keep them together so they can be fished out later. Mustard seeds remain in the relish. Cook until vegetable are soft, not mushy! Remove mixed spice bag and add 5 cups of sugar. Cook 10 more minutes until sugar is melted. Bottle in sterilized canning jars.

Dear Sun Spots: Our school is looking for small wooden chairs for a fund-raising activity. If you have some or know where I can get some, please contact me, (207) 645-2264. – Heidi Osgood, Wilton.

Dear Sun Spots: I am trying to find replacement parts for my Fantom Thunder vacuum cleaner. I need a new belt and roller. The phone number that is printed on the unit itself is no longer in service and I have not received a response from the question posted on their Web site. I would appreciate any help. – N. Adams, Jay.

Answer: Try contacting: Carlisle Bay Co. Ltd. 59 Harwood St., P.O. Box 175, Hickson, Ontario, Canada N0J 1L0, 1-877-245-7444 or via their Web site at www.heparrest.net; or TotalVac.com, 83 Pine St., Building D, Peabody, MA 01960. You can also check out their Web site at www.totalvac.com.

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