It’s the Best Tasting Pickle I’ve Ever Hoid!

Now, onto the subject of this post: I canned pickles today.  “Ho hum, big deal,” you say?  This is a momentous occasion!  Awards should be given!  Pickle Holiday proclaimed!

No, no, I’ve canned pickles before.  Many times over many years.  But this, my friends, marks a special date on the calendar that announces that I have begun to win the war against crappy, sandy soil!!

Wait… OH!  I just heard the joyous *pop* made by a jar sealing!  *Happy Dance*

OK, to the beginning.  I have been slowly bringing the little babies in from the garden over the past couple weeks, waiting for enough to justify making my Mom’s famous dill pickles, and since I had today off with the afternoon free, I got to work.  But first, I had to find her recipe.

Please tell me that I am not the only person on the planet that has a basket full of loose recipes.

It’s sad, I know.  I really should organize this mess, but I’m afraid that if I do, I’ll never be able to find anything again.  It may look like pieces of junk are just thrown in there, but really, I know what is in there.  And I knew that recipe was in there.  At least it was the last time I used it (12 years ago).  So I’m sifting through and reminiscing over old newspaper clippings and pictures, and getting toward the bottom of the pile and coming up empty handed.  I was getting worried.

And then, when all hope seemed to be lost, there it was, nearly at the bottom of the basket.

I kissed this piece of paper!

Yes, it may be old and faded, but it contains the most perfect recipe for dill pickles that I have ever had in my life.  When I was growing up, we would wait months for Mom to pull a jar from the fruit cellar, drooling over knowing that first crunch of pickle was going to slowly build with the heat and flavor of the chili pepper and garlic.

When she passed away, we found a few jars left that were 4 years old, the last time she was able to do any canning.  I was worried that there was going to be a war to decide who got them, but we were civil and divided them as equally as we could.  And what was left over we immediately opened and devoured.

It was ambrosia!

Another POP… YAY!!!

Because perfection takes time, and these must rest until winter to reach their full potential.

But it will be worth it, I promise.

And even though I only got 3 pints done today, my plants are still producing, so there is the prospect of another pickle canning day on the horizon.

WOOT!! Last jar just popped!