A Morning in the Kitchen

I find myself making more and more of those things I used to purchase ready-made and oh-so-convenient.  It’s a conscious choice, not one dictated by saving money, that’s for sure.

Today happens to be a heavy-duty cooking day as I make dog food, bread-and-butter pickles, and roasted vegetables.

Here’s the list of what I now make that I used to buy:

Dog food and dog treats

Yogurt

Apple sauce

Challah
Soups

Pickles

Salad dressing

Although I haven’t actually tasted the dog food, I think every one of the other items tastes much better in its homemade form.  And good taste is worth the investment of my time, at least right now.  I also like the fact that I know exactly what I'm eating -- there are no additional ingredients to promote taste or increase shelf-life.

In case you find yourself craving some delicious pickles, here’s my recipe:

Bread and Butter Pickles

15 cups sliced pickling cucumbers

3 onions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup coarse salt

4 cups cracked ice

2-1/2 cups cider vinegar

2-1/2 cups sugar

3/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1 tablespoon mustard seeds

1. Combine cucumbers, onions, salt, and ice in a large bowl.
2. Mix well.
3. Put a weight on an allow to stand 3 hours.  (A plate or an inverted lid with something heavy on top works well.)
4. Drain thoroughly.
5. Combine vinegar, sugar, turmeric, celery seed, and mustard seed in a large pot.
6. Add drained cucumbers.  
7. Place pot on medium low heat.
8. Bring almost to a boil, but DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Seal in sterilized jars and cook 10 minutes in a water bath.

The pickles are delightful with tuna fish or with anything that needs that sweet and sour taste.