Re: Pickle suggestions needed
"Melba's Jammin'" <barbschaller@earthlink,net > wrote in message
news:barbschaller-059E52.11524119042008@news.iphouse,com ...
> In article <S89Oj.20671$%41.3643@nlpi064.nbdc.sbc,com >,
> "Anny Middon" <AnnyMiddon@hotNOSPAMmail,com > wrote:
>
>> Trees are getting buds here, and I'm starting to think about this year's
>> canning projects.
>>
>> I had 18 lucky recipients of home-canned goodies for Christmas last year,
>> so
>> I figure I should plan for 20 for this year. I'm planning on giving
>> pickles, two pints per recipient. I won't make 20 pints of one kind and
>> 20
>> pints of another kind -- part of the fun is giving different types to
>> different people.
>>
>> Pickles I've made in the past which I'll make again are:
>>
>> Grandma's Dill Pickles (I think the recipe is in that big Ball book. You
>> put a head of dill in each jar, which makes it kind of fun.)
>> Bread and Butter Pickles
>> Pickled Carrot and Zucchini Strips (with oregano. I bastardized a recipe
>> in
>> the Small Batch Preserving book)
>> Green Tomato Pickles (Could use a new recipe here. Last year I was all
>> set
>> to make them when I reread the recipe I was going to use and discovered
>> that
>> although it called for pickling spice it had no sugar. I wanted them to
>> be
>> sweet and hot [I was using pearl onions and small red chiles in addition
>> to
>> the tomatoes] so I combined a couple of recipes. They came out pretty
>> good,
>> but I'd like to try someone's tried-and-true recipe)
>>
>> I'm thinking of making Watermelon Pickles and Dilly Beans this year, too.
>> I'd like to make four or five other types of pickles, so I'm asking for
>> suggestions from the veteran pickle-makers here.
>>
>> My thought is to couple a common kind of pickle, like the dill pickles
>> and
>> the B&B pickles, with something more unusual, like the Dilly Beans or
>> Watermelon Pickles. I'm also figuring that most boxes would contain a
>> jar
>> of sweet pickles and a jar of nonsweet pickles. However, a couple pf
>> families on the list include someone who is diabetic, so I'd like to give
>> them two jars of nonsweet pickles. I don't want both of those jars to
>> include dill, so I wouldn't for example give a jar of Grandma's Dill
>> Pickles
>> and a jar of Dilly Beans to the same family.
>>
>> So, suggestions anyone?
>>
>> Anny
>
>
> Watermelon Pickles? Did someone say Watermelon Pickles? These have won
> more than one blue ribbon for this ribbon slut. Anyone who makes such
> wonderful peach salsa should not be deprived of this recipe. I've
> posted it several times here. I get the oils from a candy-making
> supplier (Sweet Celebration/Maid of Scandinavia) near me. If you can't
> find it, I could send you some.
>
> { Exported from MasterCook Mac }
>
> Watermelon Pickles
>
> 1 thick rind of one large watermelon
> 7 cups sugar (3-1/2#)
> 1/2 teaspoon oil of cinnamon
> 1/2 tsp. oil of clove
> 1 pint cider vinegar (2 cups)
>
> Peel and cut into chunks the rind of one large watermelon. Cover with
> boiling water and cook until tender (can put a toothpick in it) -- maybe
> a half hour? Drain well.
>
> Make a syrup of sugar, oils, and vinegar. Bring it to a boil and pour
> over well-drained rinds, in a non-metal bowl. Let stand 24 hours; drain
> off syrup and re-heat it and pour over the rinds again let stand 24
> hours. On the 3rd day, heat the rinds in the syrup and put in hot jars
> and seal. Yield: 6-8 pints.
>
> Notes: This recipe came from my neighbor in 1976.
>
> Also, I stick these in a boiling water bath for about 5 minutes to be
> sure they seal.
>
>
> Additional Note: Similar recipe is in Farm Journal¹s Freezing & Canning
> Cookbook, Doubleday, 1964. (8/1/91).
>
> Farm Journal book says: Use rind from firm, preferably underripe melon;
> trim off dark green skin and pink section, leaving a very thin line of
> pink. Cut into 1² cubes or circles with a small biscuit cutter or
> inside of doughnut cutter. Soak about 2 hours in salt water (1/4 cup
> salt to 1 quart water) to cover. Drain; rinse and cover with cold
> water. Bring to boil; cook until tender, but not soft (about 10
> minutes); drain. Combine sugar, vinegar and spices; heat to boiling.
>
> Add red food color if desired. (Note: Ick. Why would you do that?)
>
> <<<<<
> Notes: First Place, Minnesota State Fair, 1985, 1986, 1997, 2007
>
> *********************************
>
> And I have this recipe in my files. Can't vouch for its delectability,
> though:
>
> { Exported from MasterCook Mac }
>
> Watermelon Rind Pickles
>
> 7 pounds thick watermelon rind
> 1/4 cup pickling salt
> 1 quart cold water
> 1 tsp. granulated alum (optional)
> 7 cups sugar
> 2 cups white vinegar
> 1/2 tsp. oil of cinnamon
> 1/2 tsp. oil of clove
>
> Trim pink flesh and outer green from melon rind to so you have white
> pulp. Cut pulp into 1-inch cubes. Dissolve salt in cold water and soak
> melon rind cubes in this solution overnight. Make more brine as needed
> to keep rind covered.
>
> In the morning, drain the melon rind cubes, rinse, and drain again.
> Place in a large kettle and cover with cold water. Add the alum, if
> using, and cook until rind is tender but still crisp. Drain. Put in a
> crockery bowl.
>
> Combine sugar, vinegar, oils in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and pour
> over rind. Cover and let stand overnight.
>
> In the morning, sterilize canning jars.
>
> Drain off syrup into a saucepan. Pack the rind into sterilized canning
> jars. Bring syrup to a boil and pour over rind in jars, leaving 1/2
> inch headspace. Seal and process in a boiling water bath for 10
> minutes. Yield: About 8 pints.
>
> <<<<<
> Notes: Source: Blue Ribbon Pickles and Preserves, Maria Polushkin
> Robbins, p. 30, St. Martin¹s Press. From library, 1991? Have not made.
>
> --
> -Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
> http :// www .caringbridge.org/visit/amytaylor
> She's had good news! Hurrah!
Red Wine Pickeld Beets!!!!! YUM!!!
OK, so Barb's Watermelon Rind Pickles are AWESOME - I've had hers, and then
made them myself. And her recipe for B&B pickles is amazing too - made
those last year and will again this year. But for something different,
other than Edrena's Okra Pickles (I'd like to try them but okra isn't
something I can get fresh around here), I vote for the RWPB or Pickled Dirt
Chinks as Barb calls them.....
I made them for the first time a few of years ago, and they are now a "I
hope you are making those beets again this year" item.
On a side note - Much thanks to Edrena for turning me on to the recipe, and
happy to hear Ol' Wiskerface is doing better.
Kathi