Winter 2010-11

So, remember how I said I was going to try posting every week? Yeah... then I got pregnant, and my sister came home from Canada, and my baby became a full-fledged toddler... so.

After feeling like I had the flu for about 10 weeks, I am finally feeling better. I sat on the couch and read approx. 6-8 novels during that time, while Esther happily entertained herself (most of the time). The rest of my family fully enjoyed the holidays while I ate very little and slept a lot. Christmas was wonderful and busy and now I have some cute photos and videos to share, 'cause honestly, I don't remember much of the last 2 months.

Carving pumpkins with Auntie "Sessa"

Apple picking!

Christmas tree "hunt."

Christmas joy

Already a little chef. :)

Rockin' out to Devo. :)

Refrigerator Garlic Onion Dills

Upon investigating in my garden the other day I came across three gigantic cucumbers, and since my internet searches failed to yield a satisfactory refrigerator pickle recipe (ie. no sugar in 'em), I did what I usually do anyway: I made up my own.

Here's what I did: I scrubbed the cucumbers and cut them into spears that would fit well in my jars (old pickle jars that I've saved). To make both jars I boiled 2 cups water, 4 cups distilled white vinegar and 1/4 cup kosher salt. I put into each jar 3 large cloves of garlic (peeled and gently flattened with the broad side of a butchers knife), 1/4 of a large onion, sliced, and 1 Tbsp. dried dillweed. Then I packed them full of cucumber spears and poured the boiling liquid over them. I screwed on the lids and let them cool to room temperature before placing them in the fridge. During this time they went from bright green to a sort of olive green (see below, jar to the left is at room temp, jar to the right has just been assembled).

And that's it! I tasted them this morning (about 16 hours later) and YUM! They are really delicious and still crunchy. Even Esther likes them. :)