In a Pickle (making).

Contributed by Marty Sinclair, The Hive Overland Park

So you decide that a garden might be a fun new hobby. You plant a few cucumber plants and all of a sudden...you are up to your eyeballs in cucumbers! What to do? Why not try your hand at making homemade pickles?

The process is surprisingly easy. Gather up a few ingredients and give it a go!

Here is what you will need:

• Fresh cucumbers (whatever amount your garden or the farmer's market gives you)

• Mason jars

• A saucepan

• Sugar

• Pickling spices (available in the spice section of grocery stores)

• Distilled white vinegar

• Kosher salt

• Fresh dill

• Whole garlic cloves

The recipe we followed:

• 1 English cucumber (any cucumber will do!)

• 1 ½ cups white vinegar* (see note below - we would cut to 1 c. vinegar/1/2 c. water)

• 2 tablespoons sugar

• 1 tablespoon table salt (we used Kosher salt)

• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

• 3 cloves garlic

• 3 sprigs fresh dill

1. Slice cucumbers into discs or cut into spears. Place the cucumbers in an airtight container or use a mason jar.

2. In a small saucepan stir together vinegar, sugar, salt, peppercorns, and garlic. Bring to a boil. Once simmering, remove from heat.

3. Pour mixture over cucumber slices in jar until full. Place the lid on and let cool to room temperature.

4. Once cooled, add in fresh dill. Refrigerate overnight (or longer) before eating.

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What we learned from the first batch:

• *Cut back a bit on the amount of vinegar! We will use 1 cup vinegar next time with 1/2 water to reduce the strength of the vinegar potency.

• We prefer cutting the cucumbers into thick chips rather than spears (the spears absorbed too much vinegar the first time around and were not as crunchy)

What to do with all of your new pickles?! Well, besides eating them because they are quite delicious :), you can:

• Tie a cute note on a jar and share them with your neighbors

• Bring them as a hostess gift to a backyard bbq

• Provide them as a prize at a family reunion

• Share with your co-workers

Have you ever made homemade pickles before?! Share your recipe in the comments.