[recipe difficulty=”easy”]

Grilled Kielbasa with corn relish

Kielbasa ( I like the small individual smoked Polish Kielbasa from Hilshire Farms)

Corn Relish Recipe

INGREDIENTS

·         1 large cucumbers, peeled, finely chopped

• 1 cup chopped green cabbage

·         2 cups of finely chopped onions

·         2 stalks celery finely chopped (Size of corn kernels)

·         ½ cup chopped pimento

·         4 cups corn kernels (cut from 4-6 ears, depending on how big the ears are)

·         1/2 cup sugar

·         1 ½  Tbsp Kosher salt

·         1/2 teaspoon black pepper

·         1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar (5% acidity)

·         1/2 teaspoon turmeric

·         2 teaspoons mustard seeds

·         1 teaspoon celery salt

·         cayenne pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1        Place everything except corn, celery and cucumber and pimento in a medium-sized (4 to 6-quart), thick-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.

2        Add celery and cook for another 5 minutes.  Add corn and cook for another 5 minutes.  Then mix in pimento.  Taste for seasoning.

3         Spoon the corn relish into clean jars and seal. Will last for 4-6 weeks refrigerated.

4        This is better made a few days before you serve it.

Yield: Makes 3-4 pints.

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I took the bread and butter pickle recipe from Recipe Girl and made a few adjustments.

 

They were good to eat a few hours later.

[recipe difficulty=”easy”]

bread and butter pickles, adapted from Recipe Girl

Yield: About 4 cups of pickles

Prep Time: 20 min + marinating time

Cook Time: 5 min

 (2-3 pounds) sliced (1/4-1/2 inch) unpeeled and washed cucumbers
1 1/2 Tablespoons kosher or pickling salt
1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
2 cup white vinegar
1 cup apple cider vinegar
½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
2  teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon celery seeds
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

1. Dissolve salt and cold water in large bowl and add sliced cucumbers. Let sit for an hour or two. Move cucumbers into a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Drain well, and return cucumbers to bowl. Add onion to the bowl.

2. Combine sugar and remaining ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add cucumber and onion mixture and bring back to boil. Pour into canning jars and let sit on the counter for a few hours.  Cover and refrigerate . Store in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

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[recipe difficulty=”easy”]

Bolstered by my success with the bread and butter pickles, I searched online for a dill pickle recipe and found one on Epicurious which I adapted only slightly.

 

Fast Favorite Garlic Dill Pickles, adapted

Epicurious  | © 2001 by Eleanor Topp and Margaret Howard

Makes 4 pint (500 mL) jars or 2 quart jars

Often called kosher-style dill pickles, these are quick to make. Use either small whole cucumbers or cut larger ones into quarters or slices. For an additional interesting flavor, tuck a small dried hot red pepper into each jar.

ingredients

·         8-10 small pickling cucumbers or sliced larger pickles (about 3pounds/1.5kg)

·         2 cups (500 mL) white vinegar

·         1 cups (500 mL) water

·         2 tablespoons (25 mL) pickling salt

·         4 heads fresh dill or 4 teaspoons dill seeds (20 mL)

·         4 small cloves garlic or slice several large garlic cloves and add to each jar

preparation

1. If using larger pickles slice into ¼-1/2 inch slices or for medium sized, cut into quarters lengthwise

2. Meanwhile, combine vinegar, water, and salt in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

3.  Add cucumbers and bring back to boil

4.. Place 1 or two sprigs of fresh dill and  1 or more  cloves of garlic into each jar; pack in cucumbers. Pour boiling vinegar mixture over cucumbers.

 

I do not process the cucumbers so they need to be kept in the fridge and eaten within a few weeks.  It will take a few days before they are at their peak of flavor.

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