Today was a productive day of harvesting of fresh veggies from the garden. I picked four green bell peppers which after washing, removing the seeds & slicing ended up filling a quart size bag for the freezer.
Another prolific plant is the cucumber plants. These Cucino hybrids produce the perfect size cukes for pickling. This morning I picked 10 of these yummy fruits so I knew I needed an easy recipe and quick. I found this recipe at www.cooks.com :
Refrigerator Pickles
3 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups of vinegar
1/3 cup of pickling salt
1 tsp. turmeric (powdered or seeds)
1 tsp. mustard seed
1 tsp celery seed
Mix all together and pour over sliced cucumbers. Let stand in refrigerator for 2 weeks before ready to eat. Makes 3-4 quarts. I did one jar of spears per #2 son’s request. He can’t wait to try these out, lol.
I also made this homemade salsa with some ingredients from my garden. Sorry no recipe this time, just played it by ear. Here’s what I threw in this time: 2 yellow tomatoes (Lemon Boy), 4 jalapenos (one happened to be red), a small pinch of basil from Opal & a green unknown variety, one white onion, a tsp of minced garlic and 1 tbsp of lime juice. All those jalapenos gave it a real kick according to hubby. Next time I could probably get away with 1 or 2 according to #2 son. 🙂
Perennial Garden Lover 
Posted by Janet on July 19, 2009 at 5:24 pm
My goodness you have been busy!! Good for you! If you like Bread and Butter pickles I will have to give you my recipe…..takes a lot of cukes.
It feels so great to harvest & eat stuff from my own garden Janet! 😉 I love Bread & Butter pickles and thanks for offering your recipe. It would be much appreciated. 🙂
Posted by Daphne Gould on July 19, 2009 at 6:08 pm
I concur with #2 son. I like the spears more than the sliced pickles. Last year I made a lot of refrigerator pickles. I hope my cukes finally come in so I can can some this year. I missed them in the winter.
Their my favorite too Daphne (the spears). I want to try the canning process this year so I can enjoy yummy produce from the garden during winter. 🙂
Posted by cindee on July 19, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Looks like you are a busy one! Its to hot to think about canning here. I thought about it for a min and then tought about something else(-: LOL
Yep I’m taking advantage of the heat to do some indoor activities. This canning process didn’t involve any boiling. 🙂
Posted by Cinj on July 19, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Wow, you’re sure busy. I hope it warms up here to speed up my plant’s production. They seem to be a long way behind most of the other plants around.
Yep it was productive day Cinj. 🙂 I hope it warms up soon for you too so you can reap the rewards of all your hard work.
Posted by tina on July 19, 2009 at 11:31 pm
I love those yellow tomatoes. Your pickles look great too. I’ve never tried refrigerator pickles. Sure beats canning all day in the heat so once my cukes start coming in that might be the way to go.
Thanks Tina. And the Lemon Boys have a unique taste, a bit sweeter. I’ll let you know how they taste (the pickles). There are several recipes online. Some take less time until you can eat them. But they required boiling etc…
Posted by rowena on July 20, 2009 at 3:34 am
Those pickles are calling my name! I second the idea of spears!!
They do look tempting don’t they Rowena. 🙂
Posted by Darla on July 20, 2009 at 6:30 am
Very nice!! Don’t you love playing with the fresh veggies??
Thanks Darla, yes I do! 🙂
Posted by OhioMom on July 20, 2009 at 6:54 am
I like, I like very much 🙂 Nothing like eating fresh from the garden.
Thanks Mom. It’s been wonderful picking food from the garden for meals etc…
Posted by Joy on July 20, 2009 at 7:37 am
Racquel … I will be right over to pick up some of these pickles girl … hear me tapping on the door ? LOL
They look yummy !
Is that what that sound was this morning? lol Sorry I was still in bed. 😉
Posted by Monica the Garden Faerie on July 20, 2009 at 8:13 am
Ooh, I’m so jealous. My green pepper doesn’t even have flowers yet, but it was very late being put it and started from seed. I love them!
I’m sure yours will catch up soon Monica. We love Bell pepper too, it makes such a great addition to salads etc…
Posted by Rose on July 20, 2009 at 8:32 am
Those green peppers look like blue-ribbon winners! Now my mouth is watering for refrigerator pickles, rather strange for 7:30 AM:) Looks like you are making good use of all this great produce.
Why thank you Rose!!! I’m quite pleased with how well their doing. This is my 3rd harvest! I grew up with refrigerator pickles so I know that craving well. lol 🙂
Posted by Marnie on July 20, 2009 at 9:22 am
Those pickles look so good. It’s been ages since I had home made pickles. Wish I would have planted a few green peppers this year. In the spring when things are so busy, things get overlooked and not missed until midsummer.
Marnie
Thanks Marnie, I haven’t had any since I was a kid actually. Isn’t that horrible? 😉 I know what you mean I meant to put out seed for a few other things but never got around to it. Oh well, there is always next year. 🙂
Posted by Garden Gnome Wanderings on July 20, 2009 at 9:57 am
Hi, I found your blog through blotanical and have added it as one of my favourites. Pleased to meet you! I love finding other gardeners. Your green peppers look wonderful! I’ve made a similar type of freezer pickle for years except it contains both onions and green peppers. Not only will your pickles keep well in the fridge, you can freeze them then thaw as needed.
Hi GGW, thanks for stopping by today. I’m glad you enjoyed my blog enough to fave it on Blotanical! It’s nice to meet you too. You will love the network of wonderful people you will get to know via that site. 🙂 I saw the recipe that included onions & green peppers. Next time I’ll have to give that one a shot too. Thanks for the tip about freezing, I would of never thought to do that. 🙂
Posted by Randy on July 20, 2009 at 11:52 am
I’m a fan of the salsa myself, it sure does look delicious!
Well if you love it spicy this would really tickle your senses. 😉
Posted by Tyra Hallsénius Lindhe on July 20, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Wonderful Racquel, your peppers looks perfect…wow
xoxo Tyra
Thanks for the nice comments Tyra! 🙂
Posted by gail on July 20, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Someday there will be more edibles in my garden! In the meantime I learn from you all and enjoy your success! gail
I wish you luck with your future edibles Gail. It has been a fun experience for me this year and I’ve enjoyed sharing it with all of you! 😉
Posted by Susie on July 20, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Hope you are enjoying those Lemon Boys Racquel. I know I wish I was! hehe! That salsa looks good. I love to experiment with different type ingredients.
They are quite tasty Susie. A little on the sweet side and wonderful in salads & salsa alike. 🙂
Posted by Balisha on July 20, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Your pickles and salsa look wonderful. Don’t you love it when your jars are all lined up on the counter? They look so beautiful.
Thanks Balisha. They were pretty all filled with tasty edibles! 😉
Posted by Dawn on July 20, 2009 at 10:37 pm
Oh my goodness, this page is in my faves because those pickles sound so good!
Thanks Dawn! This would be a good idea for all the cukes I’m sure you will be picking soon. 🙂
Posted by greenwalks on July 21, 2009 at 11:33 am
Plant, tend, harvest, eat! What a great cycle and you have done it all this year. Congrats! I have never made pickles, and would not have guessed how much sugar was involved! Guess that’s why they taste so sweet… Yellow salsa looks really interesting, I’ll have to try that sometime.