anyone have a good homemade pickles recipe?

[driftphish]

after trying some the other night from a mystery jar at a friends house I have decided to learn to make pickles.

I know like anything else, its going to be a trial and error learning process until I master the perfect kosher pickle. :tongue:

[jokester]

Good post...I too have often wondered about if anyone had a good homemade pickle recipe! YUMMY...I can taste them now! :dance:

-jokester

[driftphish]

yep, I am a salt junkie and I have always been a pickle freak so why not learn now, and then be in heaven upon mastering a pickle to my tastes!

[iwanttofish]

I have a really good bread and butter receipe if you want it. :dance:

[fishlis 1]

Apparently my wife makes the best pickles around, all of our friends can't wait til Christmas to get some. She makes all kinds but her bread and butter pickles are everyones favorite. I am not a pickle eater so i can not tell you from experience, however she is one of the best cooks around so that leads me to believe that they are good.Now when i see her in the morning i will TRY to sneak the recipes out of her. No promises guys, you know how women are with cooking secrets. :shrug: .

[Jimmy Carl Black]

Whatever recipe you go with, don't cut the pickles. Leave them whole or they get mushy. Use lots of garlic, not too much pickling spice mix, and dill dill dill!

[Mello-Yello]

I'll add a little something...I've been told many, many times (while enjoying someone's home-canned dill pickles) that it's critical that the cucumber be picked the same day that it's processed (turned into a pickle :wink:

Just thought I'd throw this in...

M-Y

[OceanBlue]

Vinegar
Water
Red Pepper flakes (like you use on pizza)
Garlic (elephant)
Red scallions
Dill weed

Oh, and Pickles. NOT cucumbers. Cucumbers will get mushy. Pickles usually do not (unless they're over-processed)

[ 02-17-2004, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: OceanBlue ]

[freespool]

Grandma Olson's Killer Dill's Recipe
In a wide mouth quart jar

1/2 cup white vinegar
1 1/2 Tablepoons canning salt
2-4 cloves of peeled fresh garlic
1-4 Dried Thai chilis
2-3 heads of fresh dill
fill jars with spring water to about 1/2 inch from top.
store in a cool dark place untill Dec.


salmon hugger

[duckcall]

We grow our own. I take fresh out of the garden cukes. Use small sized (4"), scrub, put in widemouth jars you've already placed 2 heads dill, 4 toes garlic, 2 cayenne peppers and 1 grape leaf. The brine I prepare before hand and heat what I need each time. 1 quart vinegar, 3 quarts water, 1 cup pickling salt. Pour over cukes etc. in jar. Have your lid(s) hot and put on, then your bands & they should seal. If not don't worry, just leave the bands on. Keep the brine on hand and use it as needed so you can make a jar or whatever. The grape leaf goes on top of the cukes and is an old method of making them crisp. I set them in the fruit cupboard until around Christmas to "cure". I make enough so that we are never without. This is an old recipe we have used for years. Lots of "pass the pickles please".

[jokester]

iwanttofish...sent you a PM.

I plan on making QUITE a few batches this year. I'll try to use as many recipes from everyone as I can and see how they turn out! We'll have to bring this thread back to life when pickle season is upon us!!

OOOOOOOO...i'm already excited!! :dance:

-jokester

[SafetyChain]

I made my first pickles this past season. Bread and butter. Just used the recipe on the spice box. Came out great. Only have two jars left. Definately use pickling cukes. Should be harvestable around the end of July.

I would also like to try some personal recipies too.

iwantofish- sounds like you should just post your here, unless you want to keep it somewhat a secret so you get that Blue Ribbon at the fair :grin:

[Small Fry]

How about Spicy pickeled green beans? :cheers:

I have a great recipe. Just ask Jennie.

Let me know if your interested.

[Fishfeet]

My mom got a great sweet pickle recipe from gov. Hatfield years ago called "chicken house pickles". Met the gentleman in person back then at a grange fair when I was just a (younger)youngster. Will try and get a copy for anyone interested in sweet pickles. FF.

[Maddie'sDaddy]

Anyone ever try a Hot Mama from the grocery store. Love those things , Nice and hot. :grin:

[driftphish]

thanks guys.

the only jarred grocery store type pickle I really like is a brand called "felix" its in the kosher section. steinfields, vlasic etc. are just too average. the goodday generic brand is way better than those (found at winco)kosher is a must.

hot mammas are pretty good. those type of pickles sold in singles are usually pretty good.

[driftphish]

up^^^

[Jsail]

driftphish,
Go with the recipe from Duckcall. Thats the one I grew up with and you can't beat it. A true and pure kosher pickle.
The Grape leaf is a real key.
Try a batch and then adjust to suit your taste.
The other hint is to wash the cukes (pickles) in the washing machine. It's quick and easy and you can do them all at once, spin dry and all.

[driftphish]

right on! I will maybe try a couple recipes.

[driftphish]

I went with duckcalls recipe and everything went well...(I did them over at my parents with mom :applause:)

anyway how long do you wait to open them? whats the minimum you can wait?

[Small Fry]

The longer they sit the better. I would say at least 3 month. 6 and your good to go.

[MarlinMark]

Where do you get your "grape leafs", and what kind are they? Also, was the post about washing them in the washing machine serious?

MC

[duckcall]

Grape leaves can be obtained from any backyard grape arbor/vines. As far as washing? We wash the cukes one at a time with a vegetable brush in the sink. Keep it simple.

[fishrlady]

It really does work to use the washing machine, cold water, gentle. When you do large quanities it makes a difference. Picked one morning, wash, soak them overnight in ice water, put up the next day is my routine. The grape leaf I didn't know about and sure will try it.

My favorite is sweet pickles so half the batch I finally figured out how to make others happy. Add a couple tiny but extremely hot peppers to them...'sweet with a bite'. It takes a few seconds before you realize it.

Once the jars are filled, it's important to use a rubber or plastic thin spatula down the inside of the jar to release air bubbles.

Homemade are the best! Unless you're gone fishing too much to put up the vege harvest.

[Jacks or Better]

Here's one I got from my dad and have used for a long time. Use 2" to 4" cukes - larger ones can be used.
Wash the cukes in cold water and leave them stand in very cold clean water for at least 15 minutes. (crisps them up)

In quart jar place: 1 stalk of dill, 1 whole clove of garlic, 1 teaspoon of pickling spice (add an extra red chili if you want them hotter, then pack the jar with cukes leaving 1/2 inch head space.

Brine: 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 3 cups of water, 1/4 cup pickling salt (non-iodized). Bring the brine to a boil and pour into the filled jars to about 1/4 inch from the top.

While the brine is coming to a boil, get your lids in near boiling water to soften the rubber sealer ring. As soon as the jars are filled place a hot lid on the jar and screw on the cap tight and store. As the jars cool, the tops will "ping" and seal. They should be caved in a bit on top. My dad always started eating in about 4 weeks - they still have a new taste to them and I usually wait 2 -3 months. A white cloudy ring will sometimes form on the bottom (spices). Then I know they're ready. Enjoy.

[driftphish]

bump.

its almost that time of year again. :grin:

[OceanBlue]

Here's a variation on that - for more garlic flavor, slice the garlic clove. In addition to the dill and garlic, instead of pickling spice, add 1/4 to 1 tsp of crushed red pepper. To add a sweet flavor, throw in a bermuda scallion (these are hard to find)

[MarlinMark]

I am definitely putting up some pickles this year. I have 3 plants of pickling cukes going in my small garden for some real "home grown" pickles. That being said, one of my plants has been hit hard by pests and I'm not so sure how many 3-4" cukes I'm going to get. So, which of the local farmers markets can one find good, fresh cukes for pickling? I am picking up my canner and jars this week and picking up supplies too. I am going to be ready to go where the good cukes are to pick up a peck. :grin:

So where do I start looking? Thanks to all of the pickle experts.

Mark :cheers:

[driftphish]

any farmers market...I found mine in hillsdale (sw portland) it was late in the season and they were picked through. I bought her out. so jump on them early.

[driftphish]

the cukes are in...I just put up 18 jars! got mine at sauvies island.

where can I find some more jars cheap????

[The Bad Fish]

bi mart, walmart, fred meyer,

[yankemnbankem]

Ditto on the process same day as picked......wife just canned second batch a day after picking and they didnt have the same taste. She also canned green beans the same way....with dill and peppers mmmmmmmmmmmmm mmm. Now shes canning Salsa......shes making a mess but when its all done I will have forgotten the mess as Im eating chips n Salsa.

[OceanBlue]

Pickled green beans are awesome. Great boat snacks, too. Be sure to throw some garlic in those puppies.

I just finished up with pickles. Whew! 30 quarts. I hope that's enough to get us through 'til next year.

[driftphish]

just put up 38 jars!! got the cukes on sauvies island.

[sandygirl]

I am new at this whole pickle/blog/message board thing but I did just make pickles for the first time last weekend, 3
batches, but am still looking for the Felix brand in the store. Can driftphish tell me what stores may still carry them? So far the big chains I used to get them at stopped. My wish is that mine will be just as good but my dad is near crazy craving a 'Felix' pickle.

Thanks!

[driftphish]

any pickling cuke sightings at the farmers markets yet this summer?

[driftphish]

I am new at this whole pickle/blog/message board thing but I did just make pickles for the first time last weekend, 3
batches, but am still looking for the Felix brand in the store. Can driftphish tell me what stores may still carry them? So far the big chains I used to get them at stopped. My wish is that mine will be just as good but my dad is near crazy craving a 'Felix' pickle.

Thanks!

sandy girl, felix pickles aren't being made anymore:shrug:. atleast thats what the owner of geraldi's sandwiches told me.

[driftphish]

just put up 30 jars!