American Idol and Pickles

Just to let you know my new job is going well, and I am learning a lot already. Hopefully I will catch all of it as I go along. It's a wonderful place to work, at Church.

We are watching American Idol as I type this, although I already know who won thanks to yahoo mail who didn't bother to post a spoiler for those of us in the west who never get to see it live! Oh well... I have to say David Archuleta is still my favorite even though he didn't win. David Cook is a talented performer too though. Tough choice this year.

I wanted to share some pickle recipes with you as we are getting close to that time of year. One is Mike's mom's recipe and the other is one of Mike's friends Fuddy's recipe. Enjoy!
And remember both can be found in my kitchen section- under miscellaneous.

Mom's Dill Pickles
(June Qualheim - grandma)
3 C. Vinegar
3 c. Water
6 Tbsp Salt
1/2 Tbsp Mustard seed
2 clove garlic per jar (if desired)
head of fresh dill or 1 Tbsp dry Sterilize jars and lids in pan with water. Put mustard seed, clove of garlic, and dill.
Cold pack cucumbers into jars, may add other vegetables as desired - carrots, cauliflour, green beans.
On top of cukes, put another head of fresh dill, clove of garlic.
While you are packing the jars, fill waterbath canner 2/3 - 3/4 full of water, and in a separate pan, bring to boil the brine (water, vinegar and salt). Make sure the hot water bath is boiling. Pour hot brine over cucumbers leaving 1/2" headspace in jars. And remove the lids from the pan with water. Put on jar with ring. Tighten rings manually.
Put jars in rack and submerge in boiling waterbath canner. Place lid on canner. Bring canner back to a boil and remove rack immediately.
Set jars 1" apart on cooling rack or towel to cool. Should seal within 24 hours, or must be refridgerated.

0000000000

Fuddy's Crock Dills about 10-12 lbs clean pickling cucumbers (hubby washes them in them in our washing machine- a few mins on aggitation with clean water to remove pricklies) Either whole or sliced into spears - hubby prefers them whole. Boil the following in large saucepan to make a brine. 1 c. salt 1 qt vinegar 3 qt water Pack cukes into 5 qt bucket with dill and lots of fresh peeled garlic cloves (6-8 cloves on top and 6-8 on bottom) and pour on brine to cover. Cover with a plate and a jar full of water on the plate for weight. Cover all with a cloth. Set in cool place 7-14 days tasting occasionally.

0000000000000000000000000000000

Hug the ones you love!
Bev
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com