Our First Attempt: Pickling

This past weekend we tried our hand at homemade pickles, and beans and one jar of sausage (for Mike and it looks disgusting).  M and I had both done this with our parents or grandparents growing up, but this was our first attempt on our own with our own children.  

 

 We picked up a half bushel of small cucumbers, some fresh green beans, dill and garlic on Friday afternoon from our favorite farmers market. 

 

 Saturday morning we started early with scrubbing the cucumbers - how cute is our helper!!   

 

 

 We had the jars in the dishwasher sterilizing, while M and I switched off, so I ended up peeling garlic while the boys finished scrubbing the cucumbers.  

 

 Turns out I bought way to much vinegar and pickling salt, but it's not like it goes bad at least! 

 

 We cooked up the brine and then filled up the jars with dill, cucumber and garlic. When it came to pouring the brine, it was messy, but we had a system. We have 22 jars of pickles, 2 jars of beans and 1 of the sausage.   

 

 Saturday afternoon we spent outside swimming and playing

 

 Sunday morning we learned that our system failed us though because half of our jars didn't seal properly. So we had to get new lids and recook the brine. 

 

We went into town to get new lids, dropped off donations and then surprised the kids with a visit to a new park we hadn't been to before. The kids did have fun, although Em was a little fussy - turns out she's getting 3 of her eye teeth!! 

 

 

We redid the brine while the kids were sleeping and then enjoyed the afternoon outside by the pool again. Cat beat this summers weather!!