I was working Saturday, and when I got home, my sweet wife had surprised me by making me a batch of green tomato and ginger chow-chow. I’m having it on a turkey sandwich right now. It’s bright, sweet, and has one hell of a mustard kick to it. It’s opening my sinuses and making me smile.
“I threw a bunch of extra ginger in there, because that’s how you like it.”
Awwww, thanks, sweetie. 
Interesting. I’ve never heard of chow-chow. Can we have the recipe?
In my family, we call green-tomato relish piccalilli. I have my mother’s recipe that she got from her mother, but I’ve never tried making it. There’s no ginger or mustard in it, just green tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, salt, hot peppers, onions, cloves, and cinnamon. Man, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. I’ll bet it’s been 20 or 25 years since I tasted that piccalilli.
As far as I know, chow-chow and piccalilli are synonymous. Probably just regional names for homemade relishes.
I’ll have to get my wife’s recipe, but I’ll post it if she’s willing.
I love chow chow, though only the Southern variety. A friend from Lancaster, PA once since me some from her area, and it was some sort of sickly sweet abomination with beans in it.