It’s Pickle Time. Filling The Pantry

 

Pickle Spices

We lost every single last tomato from our garden this year due to my stupid decision to plant non-certified potato seed. Very heart breaking since I loved and babied 40+ tomato plants since February so I would have plenty for the pantry.  Our potatoes and tomatoes came down with Late Blight and every last tomato rotted on the vine, what a gross, sad mess to clean up.

I was lucky in that my sister had plenty green tomatoes to share so I broke out my Grandmother’s piccalilli recipe and went to work.

Also since I put in a late planting of cucumbers that are at the peak of production right now I am also making a few more batches of pickles. This is handy and I will do it again because the canning rush at the height of the growing season is over and I’m not so rushed in getting these done.

To save a little time, I have pre blended a large batch of the pickle spices and they are offered to help save you a step in your pantry filling tasks this season.

 

A new and growing line of fresh dried spices in glass spice jars in the Farm Store at Etsy. http://LLFarm.Etsy.com

I don’t really have a set recipe for these pickles since I never know how many cucumber I will have. What I do is wash, peal, slice the cucumbers then pack them into clean pint jars. Next I count the number of jars I have filled and place enough white vinegar into my large stock pot with 1/3 being water. Bring this to a boil with a bit of sugar and pre-mixed spices. Then adjust by adding more spices or sugar until they taste just right. I boil a bit longer and cover the cukes in the jar, seal and process. I tell you this because it’s how I do it, not an approved method I’m sure.

Our own farm house blend– A good all-around pickling spice blend for general pickling and marinating, they are a tasty blend of Coriander, Dill, Mustard, Bay, Cassia, Red Pepper, and Allspice.

I also would like to mention our new line of fresh dried spices in our Etsy shop. All are available in these beautiful and refillable glass (air tight) jars or in bulk to fill your pantry.

Part of our new and growing line of fresh dried spices. Available in these beautiful glass spice jars or in bulk to fill your pantry.

So how is your pickle making going this year? Tried any new recipes?