Some of my favorite time is spent in the kitchen. The hub of many houses like ours is the bar island off the kitchen. I made pickles and fig jam. I enjoy handing out my harvest with the neighbors. Who does not like a homemade gift.
Spicy Garlic Refrigerator Pickles
Recipe for the picking spice includes:
▢2 tablespoons black peppercorns
▢2 tablespoons mustard seeds
▢2 tablespoons coriander seeds
▢2 tablespoons dill seed
▢1 tablespoon allspice berries
▢1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
▢10-12 bay leaves , crumbled
▢10-12 pounds pickling cucumbers , scrubbed clean and kept whole or sliced
▢2 cups apple cider vinegar
▢2 cups white vinegar
▢4 cups water
▢5 tablespoons pickling salt
Homemade pickling spice (recipe above) , 2-3 tablespoons per jar
Dried dill weed from a 2-ounce package , 2-3 fronds and stalks per jar
10-18 jalapeno peppers sliced
4-6 whole garlic cloves diced into each jar
My famous Fig Jam
▢2 pounds fresh figs, cut in quarters and stems removed
▢1 cup granulated sugar
▢juice of one lemon
▢1 teaspoon vanilla extract
I put it in blender until all the ingredients are mixed well and freeze for the winter.