FRUIT & VEGETABLE GARDENING Made my own pickled veggies tonight

[hotcouponmama]

This is a big deal because I am about the least domestic person on the planet. But I bought some jars and vinegar, and then played with some spices to come up with my very own recipe!!! (I used to own a spice company, so I have lots of spices at home and seem to have a knack for blending them).

When all was said and done, I wound up with 10 quart jars and 12 pint jars of pickles and mixed veggies.

Mixed veggies were:

Carrots, green peppers, onions, green beans, and cukes


I'd never done the sealing the can thing, and don't have a pressure cooker, but I boiled them on the stove and they seem to be setting up well.

I'll have to post the recipe if it turns out the right way, because the brine/spice mix was very tangy in the pan I cooked it in.

All in all, took up the bulk of the afternoon. My MIL helped me slice and jar everything. I imagine if these come out good, we'll be planning our garden around the possibility of what items can well.

Here's crossing my fingers for a good post-harvest production!

[jujubee]

I applaud your bravery, lol. Let us know how they turn out!

[IFALLSMICHELLE]

I hope they are delicious!!! We never end up with enough excess vegetables to can, I wish we did. One year my husband canned salsa but that was it.

[kristen.c]

Good for you! I love getting home-canned stuff every year from my Grandmother. At some point I'd love to learn how to can and be able to put up my own tomatoes like my family did when I was a kid. I'm hoping to have a large garden next year, so maybe then I'll be forced to learn.

Have you ever made chow-chow? It sounds like your pickled mixed veggies are pretty similar. It's a PA Dutch/Southern thing, but I have fond memories of my great aunt making it every year. From what I understand, you can put pretty much anything you want in it and each family tends to have their own recipe, but the most common things are corn, beans (kidney/lima/green/yellow), onions, cabbage, and cauliflower.

[ocean_brez]

That sounds really cool! When I finally get a real garden of my own going, I want to try my hand at canning as well. :)

[OHeather]

That's great! You'll def. have to post the recipe if it comes out great.

Something that others may want to think about is to buy excess veggies at the farmer's market to can their own for the coming year. That way you're buying local organic produce at the peak of freshness.