Pickles

Garden real estate is limited in my yard so I’m learning to grow vertically. There are plenty of interesting videos on vertical gardening!

I’m growing cantaloupes, gourds, squashes and cucumbers.

This year I took the plunge and grew 6 different cucumber varieties for pickling and just nibbling on….  OK, these are some unsightly cucumbers but they pickle great! I’m a sweet pickle fan, this is the recipe I use.

I prefer the pickles a little extra sweet and spicy but you can cut back as you like.

 Recipe

3 ea                 Kirby cucumbers, washed and sliced into 1/8 inch coins

½ cup             Vidalia onion, peeled and diced

1 Tbsp            Red chili pepper, sliced very thin

1 Tbsp            Turmeric, fresh (peeled and sliced thin)

1 pt                 Cider vinegar

1 tsp                Kosher salt

1 pt                 Sugar

1 qt                 Water

1 Tbsp            Mustard seeds

Toss the cucumbers, onion, chili and fresh turmeric in a bowl and spoon into a large mason jar.

Heat the vinegar, salt, sugar, water and mustard seeds for a few minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, let cool slightly.

Place two metal spoons into the mason jar (to absorb the heat from the brine so the jar doesn’t crack)

Pour the warm brine over the cucumbers, cover and refrigerate for 2 days, enjoy