Bread & Butter Pickles, Pickled Okra
In my mind, tailgating is all about the condiments. Since I call Chicago my home, I cannot imagine a hot dog nestled within a bun without the accompanying pickle spear. In fact, I’d probably prefer the pickle spear in the bun… I’ve been known to make a meal out of pickles and preserves with a few slices of meat or cheese on the side as accompaniments. This is especially true when my friend Dustin attends the party.
Dustin's Pantry
Dustin could be described as the King of Condiment Canning and he shares abundantly. He doesn’t do much fruit; however, he has perfected pickling, and sauerkraut fermentation is his forte. His pantry is already bursting with: Hot Dilly Green Beans, Pickled Pepper Mix, Dill Pickle Relish, Spiced Garlic Pickles, Peach Salsa, Habanero Gold Jelly, Spiced Peaches, Sauerkraut, Kentucky Blue Pole Beans…all from his own garden, I might add. (His sweet hot Habanero Gold Jelly spread on a cracker with a little cream cheese will make you weep…and then there are his Spiced Garlic Pickles and Pickled Pepper Mix on burgers…Yum!)
Okra from Farmers Market
So this year, inspired by Dustin, I set out to be able to contribute my part to the condiment section of any tailgating buffet. I bought all the Ball canning accessories at my local Ace Hardware and started reading recipes. My garden has had issues this year. But I’ve canned a few pints of: Pickled Okra, and Bread & Butter Pickles.
It’s becoming kind of addicting. I think, “I’ve got all this bulky canning gear spread around my kitchen, I might as well keep canning instead of finding a spot to store it all!” Thus, the green tomatoes are awaiting to be made into a relish. And yesterday, I got a mess of green beans at the farmers market for Hot Dilly Beans.
Not into canning, try these super-easy (and thrify) way to make pickles:
Easy Pickles
Ingredients: 1-2 cucumbers, a few ribbons of peel peeled away, sliced
Leftover jar of pickle juice from your favorite pickles
Directions: Place cucumbers in jar of pickle liquid overnight. Enjoy the next day. Keep no longer than a week in the refrigerator.
What are your favorite ways to use canned condiments: On sandwiches, in dips or straight out of the jar?
Canning Pickled Okra
{Football Friday} Bloghop!
My fave pickled addition to the tailgate has to be pickled okra!
I seem to remember you are a fan of okra…ME TOO!
What an great, easy pickle recipe! It’s perfect for a pickling newbie like me.
I’m not a big fan of using pickled condiments on sandwiches, but I do love them straight out of the jar or in dips.
Thanks Melissa. Sometime, I’d like to sit down and have a chat with you about the little flying pig on your blog. It makes me smile every time I see it!