When your CSA gives you cucumbers...

[Beth]: Make pickles!  Which is what we did yesterday.  I have a strong feeling that this blog may very soon feel like it has turned into a food blog.  I have been baking up a storm in the past few weeks, but more about that in a bit.

Like I said, we recently got a large batch of cucumbers from our CSA.  We use them in salads, but it was clear that we couldn't finish these before they went bad.  As it happened, we also got a bunch of dill.  So, cucumbers + dill = pickles.  At least we hope so.  I bought some Ball jars at the store, and we got everything ready.  After sterilizing the jars, we loaded them with dill, peppercorns, garlic, and the cucumbers.  To that we poured in some brine (simply water, vinegar, and salt), and then boiled the jars for 15 minutes.  As they cooled, we got to hear the jars "popping" as the sealing process occurred.  Supposedly that means we did it right.  We should find out in a week or so!

For some reason, I have gotten on a baking streak lately.  Well, actually, I know the reason: I am back in the job hunt and need something besides looking at boring job boards to occupy my days.  I am splitting my time between cross-stitching and baking.  That combo suddenly makes me feel like a 1940's housewife.  And I embrace that.  :-)  My first endeavor was cinnamon raisin bread, utilizing our bread maker.  Although we have had it for two years and used it a fair number of times, I still feel like bread is hit-or-miss in it.  The loaf turned out pretty well, although most of the raisins did fall to the bottom half of the loaf.  (Btw, I sadly have no pictures of my baking - must remember to take some in the future!).  Second, peanut butter brownies.  I got the recipe from a gigantic cookie cookbook from my mother-in-law.  It has about 500 recipes, all of which make me wish I could eat dessert for every meal.  These brownies took a bit of time and labor, but were well worth the effort.  Jared and his coworkers will attest to this.  The base is basic brownie batter, but with the addition of chocolate chips; then comes a peanut butter and cream cheese fluffiness on top.  Finally, some more brownie batter on top, and the mix swirled together a bit.  So heavenly!  If any readers are motivated enough to email me, I will send you the recipe.  And third, this past Friday I made banana nut bread, again using the bread maker.  I LOVE banana nut bread, but Jared isn't a fan.  This was supposed to be another concoction that I made, we sampled, and then Jared took to work to pawn off on his coworkers.  Well, that did not happen.  We ended up eating the entire loaf between Friday and tonight - and Jared doesn't even like banana nut bread!

I am debating what to try next: cookies? more bread? pie?  I am sort of intrigued about the idea of making a cheesecake.  I hear it's challenging, and besides we don't have a spring-form pan.  So maybe in the future.  But check back soon to hear how the pickles turned out!