Monday, May 23, 2011

Blog Hop - Hop on over & Gardening & Pickle Recipe

Kathie over at Kathies box of chocolates is having a no holds barred blog hop.  I thought this was a great idea to get to know bloggers that have similar interests.  I can't wait to peruse the blogs that strike my fancy.

So hop on over and see if you can find one or two or three that pique your interest.



The garden is offically out.  Hubby got it all tilled up and yesterday we planted 20 better boy tomatoes, one cherry tomato, 4 jalapenos, 8 green peppers, one row of purple hull peas, cukes, 1 squash, butternut squash, cantaloupe, watermelon, lots of sunflowers, banana peppers . . . I'm sure I'm leaving something out.  We had a nice drenching rain during the night, so that is a great start for the garden.  I also have dill, oregano, and basil coming up!  I cook with oregano and basil year round.





My boys cannot get enough dill pickles.  I have to can quarts and quarts and quarts of them. 

Left to right:  Squash pickles, dill pickles, salsa





Ingredients



Approximately 10 pounds of pickling cukes (small)
5 cups white vinegar

13 cups water
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup pickling salt…coarse
fresh garlic pieces
fresh dill





Directions



Wash cukes well and leave in cold water while preparing everything else.
Mix water, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Simmer.
Prepare canning lids and rings by simmering in water.
Prepare clean, warm canning jars by adding 1-2 pieces garlic pieces and one head of fresh dill. Pack tightly with cukes. I prefer to use very small whole cukes.
Fill jars carefully with hot brine (vinegar mix).
Place lids and rings on the jars carefully and place into a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.


Some country cooks do not process their pickles in a boiling water bath. Pickles can be done be completely eliminating the canning process and they will seal on their own. However, many people are not comfortable with this method. You have to do what works best for you.

9 comments:

Clint said...

Your garden sounds wonderful. Good luck!

Jules said...

Oh, I got tomatoes and cucumbers out, along with dill, sweet basil and lemon balm. It started raining before I got my sunflowers out. I'm trying though. :)

And sorry, did not mean to worry you. Just been busier than a bird dog.
Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

Miz Helen said...

Hi Cathy,
Just stopping by from the Blog Tour. We are getting ready for canning season, our garden in in full bloom. I enjoyed my visit to your great blog. Thanks for sharing and hope you are having a fun day!

Ella said...

Thanks for sharing; these look n' sound amazing! I love to garden! Mine is in containers this year, but so far, so good~ Nice to meet you!

Susie Swanson said...

Thank you for sharing your recipe. I wrote it down. It sounds like you'll have a lot of fresh vegetables this summer and there's nothing any better than fresh out of the garden. Thank you so much for the nice words on my post and the visit. I love your blog... Susie

Amy said...

stopping by from Kathie's place.. I love to garden also.. I just do not have one right now.. Maybe some day.. I just work on my flower beds.. I love the canning tips. Have a great night..

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Cathy, Your pickles look yummy... My mother used to make the best bread ad butter pickles I have ever eaten. I haven't ever had any as good since.

What are you doing this summer? School? Home???? How much more do you have before graduating?

Have a great week.
Hugs,
Betsy

Bossy Betty said...

This brings back lots of good memories of my grandmother's pickling. Very cool!

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Hi Cathy,
I have had different things preventing me from spending any length of time gardening. It's been frustrating, but bit by bit, things are getting planted. I hope to get my cucumbers and green beans in today. We are harvesting lettuce and radishes, though.

I haven't canned for a long time. I saved my jars, though. I'll have to see if there is a way to check them to make sure they are still good for canning. Your recipe makes me want to try making pickles again.