So this weeks TNT is a little different for me in that it has nothing to do with quilting. It did however, keep me from spending as much time quilting :) So here's what I tried new :)
I do not have a green thumb. In fact, I would say it is much more of a brown thumb. And normally our little garden produces so little that we can eat it right as we pick it. But . . . for some reason, this year, I have cucumbers coming out of my ears!! So, since we can't eat 20 cucumbers in a week, I decided to try my hand at making pickles.
I found this recipe at Crazy Mom Quilts and thought it sounded easy enough. But, when I got to the store I found that they were out of mustard seed, and didn't have red pepper flakes or canning salt. So I decided to improvise. Instead of canning salt I used regular salt and instead of the spices listed I just used Pickling Spice. (It said on the label that it worked for pickles).
So after 24 hours of refrigeration we have pickles!!! They are crispy, green and look delicious. However . . . when you bite into them they are spicy!! Seriously, these pickles bite back. I think I should have stuck to the exact recipe and left out the pickling spice, or not used so much of it.
But I am not to worried. I have already found at least 15 little cucumbers that should be ready in a few days. I will be trying again soon, and this time I will find a store that carries the remaining ingredients I need and follow the recipe :) And since this is all gardenish I am linking up to Debbies Herbal Table :)
So what have you been trying new this week??? Link on up :)
That is so cool. For so long, I have wanted to try my hand at pickling, but have not summed up the courage. I am inspired to try it out. I absolutely love spicy pickles and will definitely try your recipe.
ReplyDeleteOh, I've been wanting to try making/canning some pickles. I'm canning tomatoes tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI like how you said they bite back, it make me chuckle. My grandma used to make bread and butter pickles and I adored them. My sister has since made them with success but I've never tried. It looks like fun! Good luck with your second attempt too.
ReplyDeleteIf you want dill pickles, use a head of dill or a tbs of dill seed and a couple of cloves of garlic per quart jar.
ReplyDeleteYum, I love fridge pickles! We also make carrot pickles (with cumin seeds) and radish pickles (with rosemary). I need to post the recipes some day. Delish! For pickles I usually use mustard seed, dill seed, kosher salt and fresh dill and garlic. I don't use a recipe but they are nice and dilly. I have to get my TNT post together soon.
ReplyDeleteOoooooh! How fun! I've always wanted to make pickles!
ReplyDeleteI love homemade pickles - yum. I haven't had any for years and years!! Yours look great and spicy is good right!!?
ReplyDeleteGreat you tried anyway! And it looks like you have some pickle help above! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to Tuesday at the Table!
very cool. And a nice break from sewing. We were going to try pickling this year with cucumbers also. We planted 8 plants. But this year we got hit real heavy with squash beetles and there seems to be no way to get rid of them. I guess its a hit or miss if they come or not. Anyway, I will be trying again next year. Can I please have your recipe. Since it is tryed and true. I thank you in advance.
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Great job! Pickling and canning is fun, I love to do it (might have something to do with my preservative allergy, too, haha). Instead of the pickling spice I use dill (one tablespoon per jar instead of boiling with the vinegar solution). I also use my same recipe to pickle green tomatoes that I put in a jar with a couple hot peppers, celery, and garlic. They have a nice little bite from the hot peppers, but not too much. And pickled celery is so yummy!
ReplyDeleteHee hee, loving the idea of pickles that bite back!
ReplyDeleteI admire you for giving pickling a go. I simply don't cook if I can sew instead. My new for the week is trying to get my first tutorial written and deciding how to format it.
ReplyDeleteI'd say canning with 3 daughters-in-law and 6 grandchildren under 5 was a TNT today. And finishing with 65 quarts of peaches deserves a great big shout out! Thanks for your help!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you can find someone that loves spice to "gift" some pickles to. It's good you started with a small batch. I did a bushel that I got on the cheap, and it was a day-long affair!...there's something so awesome about preserving your own food though right?
ReplyDeleteI want to make some refrigerator pickles too. They have to be refrigerator pickles because my sister has the pickling crock 1300 miles from here!
ReplyDeleteThey look yummy, and some people really like spicy pickles. I usually use pickling lime (which has nothing to do with limes!) and make bread and butter pickles, but I can them instead of doing refrigerator. They are just SO yummy! It isn't hard, though the recipe is important, if you have more cucumbers to try. =) Best of luck!
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