DIY Life

OK, there's no denying it any longer. Fall is officially around the corner as the leaves begin to transform and September turns into October...

So what to do with those massive cukes you've grown over the summer? No worries; it's time to pickle! We'll show you how (it's much easier than you think, and you don't even need a canner!), and you'll be eating fresh all winter long...

Because cucumbers don't last long in the refrigerator (one week tops!), it's important to pickle and/or freeze your cucumbers while they're still fresh. In other words, if you've been sitting on your cucumber for five days, it's time to pickle. If you plan to pickle cucumbers from your garden, feel free to pick smaller, one-inch cucumbers to pickle. As long as they're green and ripe, you can work with any size (as long as you can fit it into a jar!). Ready to get started?:

1. Choose your cucumber. If you're new at this, you can use any cucumber. However, next year, try to plant a few pickling cucumbers to freeze. They're much easier to work with and are often tastier! When choosing your cucumber, remember the best are dark green in color with lots of warts and no bloating. If your cucumber isn't ripe enough (or over-ripe!), the pickles will be tart and less crisp.
Note: The fresher the cucumber is, the crispier your pickle will be!

2. Wash. Wash your cucumbers in cold water and cut if desired.

3. Prepare your jars for canning. If your dishwasher has a sterilize cycle, run it through a few times. If not, simply wash with warm, soapy water (and be sure to remove all soap prior to canning!).

4. Choose your pickle mix. Whether you want dill, kosher, bread and butter or sweet, many grocers have a mix for everything. Depending on which seasoning you'd like, preparation will be different, but most involve bringing the seasoning to a boil and mixing in a few key ingredients.

5. Add your cucumbers and pickle mix in a mason or canning jar. Shake and let sit for eight hours, or freeze to enjoy them in two weeks or so.

That's it! Try making a few pickles with your children; it's a fun, easy recipe that will teach them plenty of patience when it's time to wait a full eight hours... ;)

Enjoy!