Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Enough with the Depressing Family Crap - Have a Pickle!


I have NEVER had so many cucumbers as this summer.  

Really there's only so much you can do with cucumbers.  But there are a lot of ways to make pickles.  I've made sweet spicy pickles (I also have a lot of jalapenos in the garden)  Today - Spicy Garlicky Pickles!



About 10 medium sized Cucumbers, quartered.  (I cut the spears in half because I didn't have quart jars and this way they fit in pint jars)
1 jalapeno, seeded and sliced
6 cloves of garlic
3 sprigs of fresh dill
1 tsp dill seed
1/2 tsp turmeric
3 tbl Kosher or pickling salt
1/4 Cup sugar
2 Cups white vinegar
Pickle Crisp Granules (optional but it does keep them from getting soggy)

Bring vinegar, 1/4 Cup water,  sugar, salt and spices to a boil.

Sterilize 3 pint jars.  Fill each with 2 cloves garlic, 1 sprig of fresh dill, 1/3 of the chopped jalapenos and 1/8 tsp Pickle Crisp.  Then pack cucumber spears in tightly.  You may or may not get ten cucumbers in the jars.  Honestly  I didn't count and it depends upon the size of the cucumber.  If you have left over cucumbers, make a salad or something. Fill the jars with the boiling vinegar mixture.  Cover cucumbers and leave about 1/4 inch space from top.  Water bath 5 minutes.

I swear my mouth is watering just writing about this but they say you should wait a couple of weeks. 

2 comments:

  1. I'm making pickles from my cucumber abundance! Yum. Also salads with cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, basaltic vineagrette or add cilantro, jalepeno, corn and black beans, cumin, salt and pepper for a Mexican salad...a cucumber a day keeps the doctor away?

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  2. That Mexican salad sounds good. Cilantro, black beans and corn - what's not to like?

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