Wildenblue Farm Journal: Pickle Recipes to Share

Excerpts from A Country Pathway

I come upon it suddenly, alone-
A little pathway winding in the weeds
That fringe the roadside; and with dreams my own,
I wander as it leads.

Full wistfully along the slender way,
Through summer tan of freckled shade and shine,
I take the path that leads me as it may-
Its every choice is mine

A chipmunk, or a sudden- whirring quail,
Is startled by my step as on I fare-
A garter-snake across the dusty trail
Glances and- is not there.

Above the arching jimson-weeds flare twos
And twos of sallow-yellow butterflies,
Like blooms of lorn primroses blowing loose
When autumn winds arise.

The trail dips- dwindles- broadens then, and lifts
Itself astride a cross-road dubiously,
And, from the fennel marge beyond it, drifts
Still onward, beckoning me.

Why, I am as a long-lost boy that went
At dusk to bring the cattle to the bars,
And was not found again, though Heaven lent
His mother all the stars.

And lo! through the mists that may not be dispelled,
I see an old farm homestead, as in dreams,
Where, like a gem in costly setting held,
The old log cabin gleams.

Oh, darling Pathway! lead me bravely on
Adown your valley-way, and run before
Among the roses crowding up the lawn
And thronging at the door,-

And carry up the echo there that shall
Arouse the drowsy dog, that he may bay
The household out to greet the prodigal
That wanders home to-day.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Pickle Recipes to Share

I'm still working on putting food by, as the gardens are still churning out produce... cucumbers are coming on the srongest as of late, so I’ve been making dill pickles. I have never made Refrigerator Pickles, so I decided to give them a try. I pulled this recipe off from MarthaStewart.com, and proceeded to add more garlic and dill, as well as some jalapeno slices. They sat in the refrigerator for a week, and then we broke into them. Everyone likes the crispness and flavor of them, so I’ve made another two batches.

Refrigerator Dill Pickle Chips

2 pounds small Cucumbers, sliced into rounds
3 Tablespoons Coarse Salt

Place the sliced cukes into a bowl and sprinkle with the salt. mix carefully and place in the refrigerator for an hour or two. Then rinse well and let drip dry. Meanwhile, bring to a boil

3 cups Water
2 cups Distilled Vinegar
1 Tablespoon Dill Seed
4 cloves Garlic, slivered

Once this mixture has come to a full boil, reduce heat and let simmer about for 4 minutes. Then remove from heat and allow to cool for 15 minutes.
In a half-gallon canning jar or suitable bowl, add the

cucumber slices and
2 bunches chopped Dill Weed and
a few Jalapeno slices, if desired

Pour the prepared, cooled brine over the cucumber mixture, cover and place in the refrigerator for one week, at which point you can feast on them! They will keep in the fridge for three additional weeks, if they last that long!

Because I have so many cucumbers, I’ve also made a batch of my old stand-by Hot Dill pickles. They take a bit more time to get to the end result, but they are not difficult to can.

Laura’s Hot Dill Pickles

Fill your canner with enough water to process your quart-size jars, and get it going to a full-rolling boil. Then begin your pickling.
In a large pot, prepare the following brine...

1 quart Vinegar to 3 quarts Water and ½ cup Canning Salt

Bring the brine to a good hot rolling boil, keeping the mixture covered. Continue this hard boil throughout the whole process, even as you ladle into jars.
Pack each of 8 quart canning jars with each of the following...

2 Tablespoons fresh Dill
3-4 cloves peeled, slivered Garlic
¼ teaspoon Mustard Seed
pinch of Alum (the approximate size of two peas)
2 or 3 ¼” rings of hot pepper slices
And enough sliced Cucumbers to pack jar full, leaving at least a good ½” headspace.
Ladle in your brine, wipe off jar mouth and seal with tops and rings. Process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath. Let cure for at least a month or two before you open the jars.