I did it again. I PROMISED myself I wouldn't let my pickling cucumbers turn into monsters this year. And then I did. In my defense, I was checking the plants regularly... one day the cucumbers were the size of my pinky finger, and the next day, they suddenly resembled a baseball bat. How does that even happen? Regardless, foot-long pickling cucumbers aren't super desirable for making homemade pickles... mostly because they ...Continue Reading
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Honey Currant Jam Recipe
Homegrown fruit and I do not have a good relationship. The apple trees I planted? Dead within 10 months. The blueberry plant? It didn't stand a chance. The raspberry patch? I get about a cup per summer if I'm lucky. The strawberries? Maybe a bowlful on a good year. It's not entirely my fault... Wyoming's growing season isn't exactly conducive to fruit orchards. I gave up for a while, until I started doing ...Continue Reading
A Guide to Quick Pickled Vegetables
My garden is convinced it's the end of June. Except it's actually nearing the end of August. That's a problem when frosts can come as early as mid-September... Truthfully, I'm not holding my breath that I'll have the opportunity to can giant batches of tomatoes or cucumbers like last year. (Learn how to safely can anything here) So instead, I'm focusing on the produce that is trickling into my kitchen in small handfuls. And ...Continue Reading
Digging Up and Storing Potatoes for Winter
Some people buy lottery tickets. I grow potatoes. The thrill of not knowing what you'll get is intoxicating, and I find myself giddy every time I head outside with my basket to harvest spuds for supper. It's like winning a million dollars. Almost. ;) But there’s something pretty awesome about any food that actually grows and thrives under ground. It feels like there’s a little bit of magic going on when you pull a few scallions or a ...Continue Reading
Canning Cherries with Honey
When someone offers to send you a whole box of freshly picked Bing cherries? You say yes. Even if canning cherries will add an extra measure of craziness in between back-to-back trips and 4-H events. And that's exactly what happened when Northwest Cherry Growers emailed me and offer to ship me a box of cherries if I'd create a canning recipe featuring them. I've been on a canning kick lately anyway--how could say ...Continue Reading