Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Wednesday Fun #98 - What a Pickle?!

So, as I write this Tuesday evening, I've just finished my first attempt at pickling. Well, actually at canning pickles since I've made refrigerator pickles before. (All of twice, but both times turned out swell! *grin*) It's a bit of an intimidating process, I think, since I didn't grow up around anybody who canned, so it's all new to me. Fortunately, my MIL has tons of experience canning, has shared her recipes (including the one for Kraig's late paternal grandmother's garlic dill pickles!), and is only a phone call away when I have questions. I did call her the other day before starting and asked a lot of those little detail questions that are probably obvious to those who've done/been around canning, but I didn't know.

So now I have to remember to ask her how long I have to wait until we can open one and try it. With only 3 pint jars, there aren't many, so either it'll be a not-so-bad failed experiment or an incentive to plant a lot more hills of cucumbers next year...


How about you? Have you canned? Ever thought about trying it? Your parent or grandparent can when you were a kid?

3 comments:

Mugsy said...

I've been looking for a good garlic dill pickle recipe. hint hint. Mine are all for sweet dills.

Ms. Huis Herself said...

:) Mugsy, I'll happily pass it along. It's written for somebody who knows how to pickle, so lacks details I had to ask about, like how full to fill jars, how exactly does one DO a boiling water bath, etc....
Grandma Gladys's Garlic Dill Pickles
FOR 2 QT.:
1/4 c. pickling salt, 1/2 c. vinegar, 3 c. water.
Put pickles in jars with garlic & dill. Add 1/4 tsp. alum to each jar. Bring liquid to a boil. Pour over pickles. Boiling water bath - 10 min.

Good luck! Lemme know if you make it & how it turns out!

Syl said...

My mom used to can all the time. I have never done it myself, but I used to "help".