HOMEMADE PICKLES

My sister Liz and I were spending a week in Maine. While we were looking through a local gift shop I noticed a section in the store of homemade jams and relishes. I picked up a jar of pickles and held it out to Liz. “Did I tell you about the homemade pickles Alex and I made?”

“No.” Liz shook her head.

“It was actually a lot of fun.” I put the jar back on the shelf and began to explain…

My son Alex and I were in a local produce market doing our weekly fruit and vegetable run when I walked by a bin of beautifully stacked cucumbers. I picked one up and showed him. “What do you think about me making some homemade refrigerator pickles today?”

Alex looked confused. “When did you decide you wanted to do that?”

I laughed. “Just now when I saw these cute little cukes.”

I began looking through the cucumber bin, picking out several that looked perfect. Holding them in my hands I nodded my head in the direction of the produce bags, “Can you grab one for me to put these in?”

Alex pulled a plastic bag off the roll, opened it, and held it out for me.

“Thanks.” I said as I dropped them in. “I actually saw the recipe online a few days ago.

“So what else do you need to make them?” He asked.

“Good question.” I moved our cart out the the way and pulled out my phone to look up the recipe again.

Scrolling through my phone I pointed to the bag of cucumbers in our cart. “Kirby cucumbers. Check.”

I looked around the store. “I’ll also need some fresh dill.”

“I saw some back there.” Alex said as he ripped off another plastic bag from the spool and headed to the fresh herb section.

I was still scrolling when he came back.

“Here you go.” He said as he put the bag of dill in our cart.

“It looks like I have everything else I need at home already.” I began reading the ingredients. “White vinegar, pepper corns, garlic cloves, sea salt, and red pepper flakes. Oh, wait…it says you can also put in coriander seeds.” I looked over at Alex. “I don’t think I’ve ever used that one before.”

Alex pointed over to the section that had all the jarred spices. “I’m sure they’ll have some over there.”

I pushed the cart, following Alex as he went to the spice section. “Here it is.” He handed it to me.

“Oh, I’ve seen this before.” I put it in the cart. “I think we’re all set.” We headed for the checkout.

“I’m surprised you’re going to do some canning.” Alex was placing items from our cart onto the checkout counter. “You always said you were afraid of canning because if you did it wrong you could give someone botulism.”

“I haven’t changed my mind on that one but I’m not canning these.” I opened a bag placing the paid for items in it after they were scanned. “That’s the beauty of refrigerator pickles. You just cut up the pickles, layer the seasonings in the jar, pour the brine over it all, close the lid, put it in the fridge, and you’ve got pickles the next day!”

“So I guess pickles are the vegetable we’re going to be eating all week?” He asked.

I looked confused. “Why are you saying that?”

The cashier had finished ringing us up and was waiting for me to pay.

“Because the only things we got were the ingredients to make pickles.”

I looked in my bag and realized he was right. “Okay.” I said with a laugh. “I guess I got a little distracted.” I smiled at the cashier as I swiped my credit card.

As we were walking out of the store I looked over at Alex. “I guess we should put this bag in the car and go back in and finished our shopping. What do you think?”

Alex laughed as he patted me on the back. “I think that sound’s like a good plan.”