Party in my Pantry

It feels like I'm storing up for the apocalypse or some natural disaster.  But in reality,  I just can't seem to stop canning.  It's like a bad habit with incredibly delicious results.
Now, for some unknown reason I've always been too chicken to pickle.  I don't know why I found it so intimidating.  I suppose it was just some small hurdle that I couldn't quite seem to overcome.  But then something changed in me.  On a bright Autumn day just like any other day, I went over to my friend Anne's house for a brunch and canned goods exchange.  I didn't take a picture of her pickle collection, but trust me, it was a thing that dreams are made of.  I managed to get away with these two packed jars:

The pickled carrots are from Anne and the plums are from Emily.   I thought, if these talented ladies of similar age and style are doing it, then why can't I?  I vowed that morning to make a go of it.  It was time to let go of my inhibitions and pull out the pickling salts and vinegars.

And thus, a brand new hobby was born.  I'd actually been pondering for quite some time about what could be done with my vast quantities of unripened green tomatoes still dangling from their stunted branches...

and then I found the perfect solution.   Small Batch Pickled Green Tomatoes from my favorite canner, Food in Jars.   I was feeling so thrifty and earth-friendly whipping up these pickles!  Nothing goes to waste in my garden.

I think this was the perfect first pickle recipe for me to wet my whistle with.  A really easy, no hassle kinda recipe.  My favorite.  I made a little extra because we have such an abundance of tomatoes, so  I came out with 4 pints.  Since you have to wait a week for them to become sufficiently pickled, I have yet to try them.  One jar sits on the shelf and stares at me every time I open the fridge, seducing me.  It's like waiting to open your stocking at Christmas.  Naughty pickles.  

So um yeah, I couldn't stop there.  In fact, right after I finished with the tomatoes, I went for the asparagus.  I couldn't resist.   Asparagus is my favorite pickle to munch, so it had to be one of my first vegetables to put to death in it's vinegar-y, salted grave.

As usual, I referred to the same blog to find my recipe needs.  I really need to branch out sometime...

Pickled Asparagus, almost too good to be true.  I canned 3 weighty pints of the stuff and they were ready to devour in 24 short hours!  I've almost eaten an entire jar already, they're so perfect.  Sour, salty, crunchy, and a wee bit of a spicy face punch.  Perfect appetizer while you cook, afternoon distraction whilst you pace the kitchen trying to escape work, and just the thing to pull you from your cozy slumber for a midnight snack attack.  Will it make your pee smell?  Definitely.  Is it worth the shock in the bathroom?  Absolutely.  Will I be sharing?  Not a chance.

Here's what's next on my pickle list:

Did your jaw just drop?  Because mine did, and I'm the one who took the photo.  Nerd alert!

I'm LOVING the colors of Fall fruits and vegetables right now.  I can't seem to get enough.  I was pondering seasonality awhile ago and decided to try my hand at painting some....

Well, I became so enthralled, I painted 48 of them!  I'll be dispersing them all onto a Calendar for 2012 that I'll be selling in my etsy shop.  Until then, however, you can get an, 11x17" print with a selection of the fruits and vegetables displayed in an eye pleasing fashion!  

You can find it for sale here!  But if you're looking for some other size options or a version on canvas, you can also find it in my Society6 shop.

My printer does a really excellent job recreating what I painted, I was truly in awe as I watched it print this artwork out.  I'm looking forward to framing it and putting it in my kitchen next to the fridge.  Then it will always be there to remind me to eat my fruits and veggies like a good girl.  

Okay, I'm swamped in my efforts to get ready for the holidays, so I better jet.  But I'll leave you with this song that seems so fitting for these times.  Hope you enjoy:

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