Canning Party 2011

Not long ago Mom & I had our canning party 2011. A little smaller than previous years but with a 3 month old things change. We decided to just go pickle crazy.

Here are some photos from our creations:

Gathering the ingredients

Sweet coined pickles

Sterilized jars

End of season pickling cuc's

Cabbage keeps them crispy

For our method, look to my old blog post, here.

Processing

It's Creating Time!

The last days of summer are absolutely made for my favourite things: gardening, canning and crocheting (because you'll need some new scarves, mitts and hats soon!) I could probably include coffee brewin' in there too when the mornings are chilly. Just out of curiosity, does it offend anyone that I drink a mug of coffee every day despite breastfeeding? I would love to know how people feel.

So in honour of this glorious time of year, I have a challenge for my readers. Read through this list of creative ventures and do at least one of them before the autumn equinox on Sept 23rd. Heck, do more than one. I plan to do all of them if my little Ollie Wolfe's sleeping habits will allow.

1. Do some end of summer maintenance to your garden. If you're really ambitious this could include attempting seed saving.
2. Make something DIY instead of buying it. Like these wood coasters (see photo) that my coffee table desperately needs.
3. Learn a new song on your instrument of choice. I suggest Iron & Wine.
4. Crochet a fall scarf. Charcoal grey is particularly satisfying.
5. Host a pickling party. Have friends bring their own jars and pay a buck or two for your supplies (pickling cucumbers, vinegar, salt, maybe sugar and other spices). Or let everyone bring a unque veg to pickle (think asparagus, carrots, pearl onions..)
6. Donate your rarely worn summer clothes. Commit to going new-clothes free all autumn. If you really need something get it second hand.
7. Write a thank you card. Lately I've realized gratitude is one of life's sweetest virtues. Recognize the people in your life that bless you.
8. Brew some joe (or tea!) in a french press. If you're near a specialty coffee shop, a thrift store or an Italian family home, try using a Moka stove top pot.
9. Go on a library binge. It's free!
10. Read myideaofhappiness regularly ;)

DIY Dill Pickles

We began our experiment with a bounty of market fresh vegetables. The dill sounded lovely in a pickled form so we began:

Photo by: Sarah Goertz

Photo by: Rose Goertz

The cucumbers (about 8 lbs) soaked in ice water while I filled tall mason jars with dill and garlic cloves.

Photo by: Rose Goertz

Each pickle was lovingly washed and inspected then added to the garlic and dill.

Photo by: Sarah Goertz

We boiled 4 cups vinegar, 12 cups water and 1/3 cup pickling salt then added it to the jars with 1/4" headroom.


We processed for 15 minutes to seal and will leave them for around 3 months to fully become delicious.

DIY Bread and Butter Pickles

Wash and slice 6 cups of cucumbers, yielding 1/8" coins. Chop 3 medium onions and 1 green bell pepper.

Photo by: Sarah Goertz

Add to cucumbers and mix with 1/2 cup canning salt. Let stand for two hours.

Rinse off excess salt. Combine 2 cups vinegar, 2 cups water, 1 tsp mustard seed, 1 tsp celery seed, 1/2 tsp turmeric and 1 1/2 cups sugar and bring to a boil. 

Combine with cucumber mix and boil for 5 minutes.

Pack into sterilized jars leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe rim of jar and process to seal.