Pickles!

It's pickle season!

Tomatoes, Peppers and Cucumbers! My husband challenged me to a pickle off so I made a batch last night.

It's the easiest recipe and they are quick fridge pickles, BONUS. No toiling over the stove on these hot summer nights. Eat them within a week or so, unless you do a traditional water bath and then they'll last on the shelf without refrigeration for up to a year. Directions are below:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound cucumbers
• 6 large cloves garlic
• 1 bunch dill
• 2 Tbs. black peppercorns
• 1 1/2 Tbs. salt
• 1 Tbs. sugar
• 1 Cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 Cup water

Directions:

1. Collect 1 pound of cucumbers from the garden or get them at the farmer's market. We grew "Mercury Persian," in our garden this year. They're small (between 6" and 8" long), seedless, completely burp-less and very tender, with a thin, mild skin. But you could do equally well with any Persian or Persian Hybrid which are similar to the English variety of cukes, such as "Sweeter Yet."
2. Wash a large mouth pickling jar and lid/band with warm soapy water.
3. Let the jar air dry.
4. While the jar is drying, cut the cucumbers and the garlic cloves into quartered pieces.
5. Place half the peppercorns, garlic cloves and dill in the bottom of the jar.
6. Add half of the cucumber slices.
7. Add the rest of the peppercorns, garlic cloves and dill.
8. In a separate jar with a lid, mix the apple cider vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Shake jar until salt and sugar are dissolved.
9. Pour pickling solution over the cucumbers.
10. Place lid on the pickle jar and refrigerate overnight.
11. Enjoy!

Summer Salsa

I hate it when I am so busy with work and housekeeping and merry making that I cannot find the time to sit down to write a post (Joan, I'm sorry!).

So to keep myself accountable, let me say that I have a couple good ones on their way which include: Santa Cruz for the 4th of July and Nectarine Plum Preserves with Cardamom.

Today it is my summer salsa.

The garden is brimming with Cilantro and tomatoes and while I love salsa anytime of the year, it is especially good in the summer with tons of Cilantro. I truly cannot live without my chips and salsa. Plus, we live in California! Let's represent! Not just for our farm to fork culture but the embracing of the diversity we share.

Summer Salsa

Ingredients

• 5 medium very ripe tomatoes (skin and seeds removed)
• 5 large cloves of garlic 
• 3 green onions chopped
• 1 ENTIRE bunch Cilantro (Coriander) including stems - wash bunch well.
• 2 roasted Anaheim peppers - To roast peppers: put in broiler for 10 minutes turning often or if you have a gas stove put the peppers directly on the flame and turn frequently.
• Juice of 4 limes
• Salt generously and pepper to taste 

Instructions

1. Put all ingredients in the blender or food processor 
2. Blend well very well, scraping down sides of processor or blender
3. Chill for an hour to meld flavors
4. Serve cold with your favorite chips, or use in eggs or put on grilled chicken or make a steak sandwich and use this as the condiment!

Chia Pets

I love Chia Seeds. They are something I learned to incorporate regularly into my diet from Tara. You know Tara; I have blogged her bathroom re-model and her little North West Cottage and a host of other cool things that her spirit has touched. The next post I will do with her will be about home economics. Keep your eyes peeled if your interested in saving money and diminishing your carbon footprint - she is a maven!

In any case, when I went for a visit to Portland last month, she made smoothies every morning with Chia Seeds. I have had many a Kombucha with Chia, my friend Kendra said once that it's great before a workout - she was right. But I had never actually considered Chia as a nutritional supplement until Tara and I discussed it. Chia seeds mixed with a drink will help you sail through cravings with hardly a notice. Here is a recipe: 1 Tbs. Chia Seeds, 2 Tbs. Apple Cider Vinegar, 1 Liter water mixed with lemon juice to your taste and stevia for sweetness: and I promise - YOU WILL NOT BE HUNGRY!

Chia seeds also grow into cute tiny sprouts that the whole family loves including the cat! I discussed the possibility of growing Chia Seeds (as in Chia Pet) with Tara. During my last day in Portland, my sweet friend took me to an antique shop. She spied a tiny ceramic duck and showed it to me, exclaiming that all I'd need is a cheap sponge inside the duck and a daily watering.

Here are the results:

The materials: Cheap sponges (you'll discard after each sowing),  cute planter, and chia seeds (Costco $13.99).

Cut the sponge so that it will fit inside the planter.

Insert the sponge so it creates a little planting mound.

Mix 1 teaspoon chia seeds with 1 tbs water.

Here is a better angle so you can see consistency.

Day 2

Day 3

Day 5

Day 7