Using Cukes from garden; How to Make Pickles: Kosher Dill & Bread n Butter.

I have been harvesting cucumbers from my garden and I love to can. Yum, crisp, tasty pickles from my kitchen to yours.

There is nothing like eating canned goods, that you grew while the weather was warm, in the winter. I can in a method that allows the jars to remain unrefrigerated on a shelf, until opened. Once opened, the seal is broke and they need refrigeration.

 ...Just what to do with all those jucy green cukes from your garden? I love pickles! Yummy...

I like to use pint size jars for canning pickles. I bought these at Publix.

This year I am making my cucumbers differently. I did the usual old fashioned recipes. But, I also (for the first time) am trying some of the store bought preparations to see if the pickles are better or worse. I like the idea of no preservatives. Canning is all about preserving food with the use of salt and pressure sealed jars. However, my husband mentioned he liked his pickles crisp, so I tried using Ball's (stay crisp) Pickle Mixes. I will let you know, after a few months how they taste and the differences.

The Old Fashioned recipe for Bread and Butter Pickles, without any preservatives:

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds cucumbers
• 1 large sweet onion, quartered, or sliced about 1/4-inch thickness
• 1/3 cup kosher salt
• 3 cups cider vinegar
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seeds
• 3/4 Tablespoon coriander seed
• 1 Tablespoon  yellow mustard seeds
• Or use Pickling Spice to your taste
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional

Directions:
1. Cut cucumbers into wedges or slices for burgers (I do both; wedges for eating alone and slices for burgers).

2. Slice onions into wedges or slices.You can see a candle burning, it will burn the fumes of the cut onion, so that it will not burn my eyes while cutting. I also leave the root intact until the last cut, that is where most of the fumes are.
3. Place cut up produce in a colander with the salt added. Place into a sink, or bowl to collect the water that will accumulate. Add ice on top, let sit for 3to 4 hours, allowing the salt to get the water out of the cucumbers, or you may refrigerate overnight.
4. Sterilize jars & lids in boiling water for 15 minutes.
I do the lids and jars separately; the jars take longer to come to a boil than the lids. It also makes it easier to grab the lids with the tongs.

Use jar lifting tongs to not burn your hands when putting jars into or when taking jars out of hot water. Place hot jars on paper towels to drain after you boil them.
5. In a large pan, combine vinegar through red pepper flakes (the next 7 - 8 ingredients) and bring to a boil.

6. In "still warm jars" place cucumbers and onions into jars.
7. Pour hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers in the jars; keep 1/4 of an inch from top of jar open with no liquid or cucumbers.
8. Place lids on with a light screw on top. Replace filled jars into hot water bath and boil for an additional 15 minutes. See the jars are underwater with lids on ready to bring the water back to a boil to seal and preserve the contents of the jar for a shelf life. ;-)
9. Remove pickles to cool and label with date. Wait 2-3 months before eating for best results.

The Quick method using Ball's Bread & Butter Pickle Mix:

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 lbs cucumbers cut into wedges or slices
• 1 large sweet onion cut into slices or quartered
• 2 1/2 C vinegar
• 2 1/2 C sugar
• 1/4 C Ball Bread & Butter Pickle Mix

Directions:
1. Cut cucumbers and onion into slices or wedges. 
2. Combine in a large pan vinegar through pickle mix (next 3 ingredients), and bring to a boil.
3. Sterilize jars & lids in boiling water for 15 minutes.

4.  In "still warm jars" place cucumbers and onions into jars.
5. Pour hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers in the jars; keep 1/4 of an inch from top of jar open with no liquid or cucumbers.
6. Place lids on with a light screw on top. Replace filled jars into hot water bath and boil for an additional 15 minutes.

7. Remove pickles to cool and label with date. Wait 2-3 months before eating for best results.

Old Fashioned, no preservative Kosher Dill Pickles:

Ingredients:

• 4 lbs cucumbers cut into wedges or slices
• 1 large onion cut into slices or wedges
• 45 heads or dill stalks, (I use 3 per pint jar). I grow them in my garden and just cut them off as a whole plant; however, you can purchase fresh dill at the grocery store in the produce section.
• 1/3 C kosher salt or even less, my family is not a fan of a strong salty taste).
• 4 C's cider vinegar
• 4 C's water
• 3/4 of a heaping C of sugar
• 3 Tbl Pickling Spice
• 5 bay leaves
• 8 cloves of garlic
• 2 Tablespoons of mustard seed

Directions:
1. Wash and cut cucumbers into either wedges or slices (I do both, one for hamburgers and the wedges for eating alone).
2. Slice onion in slices for burgers, or quarter them.I burn a candle whenever I cut onions; it will burn the fumes from the onion...keeping your eyes from tearing. ;-)
3. Sterilize jars & lids in boiling water for 15 minutes.
4. In a large pan, combine salt through mustard seeds (the last 8 ingredients) and bring to a boil.
6. In "still warm jars" place cucumbers and onions into jars. Put 3 Dill heads into each jar and distribute the cooked garlic heads too (just make sure to even it out, so that one jar does not get all the garlic).
7. Pour hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers in the jars; keep 1/4 of an inch from top of jar open with no liquid or cucumbers.
8. Place lids on with a light screw on top. Replace filled jars into hot water bath and boil for an additional 15 minutes.

9. Remove pickles to cool and label with date. Wait 2-3 months before eating for best results.

The Quick method using Ball's Kosher Dill Pickle Mix:

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 lbs cucumbers cut into wedges or slices
• 1 large sweet onion cut into slices or quartered
• 1 C vinegar
• 2 C's water
• 1/4 C Ball Kosher Dill Pickle Mix

Directions:
1. Cut cucumbers and onion into slices or wedges.

2. Combine in a large pan vinegar through pickle mix (next 3 ingredients), and bring to a boil.
3. Sterilize jars & lids in boiling water for 15 minutes.Remember to use tongs when handling hot jars and lids. 
4. In "still warm jars" place cucumbers and onions into jars.
5. Pour hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers in the jars; keep 1/4 of an inch from top of jar open with no liquid or cucumbers.
6. Place lids on with a light screw on top. Replace filled jars into hot water bath and boil for an additional 15 minutes.
7. Remove pickles to cool and label with date. Wait 2-3 months before eating for best results.

EnJoY!!! ;-)

To make Jam, see: http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-to-do-w-blueberries-cherries.html

Backyard Summer FuN w the Kids

Okay, so I remember playing yard darts as a kid. The darts were huge flying daggers that were more than dangerous; what were we thinking? Today, you can make lawn darts out of fabric, or a plastic grocery bag in the shape of a dart  with a tassle at the end and fill with sand. Aim for a hula hoop. Same game, just less of a chance of stabbing our kids.

Today, have fun w your kids on the cheap.

Fun ideas:  

I ran across this video series and found it worth sharing. There are several clips to watch. My favorite ideas are on the clip showing backyard games:

"Backyard Game Faves."

Holly Robinson Peete is your narrator and a very cool lady too. ;-) Check it out and have fun with your kids!

http://glo.msn.com/living/backyard-movie-night-1222.video?from=en-us_msnhp&gt1=49006

(You have to click on the link, clicking on the picture will not work).

And remember Asteroids? The video game of our youth. Now video gaming is advanced, keeping our kids faces deep into the computer or television. Get them outside by going "old school."

Get the kids out of the video games and outside into the backyard.

 Asteroids

What You Need:

Four to six players

• 1 soccer ball (the planet)

• 1 foam ball (the asteroid)

Instructions:

1. Divide players into two teams.
2. The object of the game is for Team Asteroid to throw their foam ball and hit Team Planet's soccer ball. Team Planet controls their ball by kicking it around, trying to keep it from Team Asteroid. Team Asteroid players are not allowed to take any steps with their ball. Instead, they must pass it to teammates, trying to get it in the hands of a player close enough to the planet for a shot.
3. When the foam ball hits the soccer ball, the teams switch roles.

 http://familyfun.go.com/summer/summer-games/

More great ideas can be found at Disney's Family Fun. It is a site I hit regularly. ;-)
Have Some Summer Family Fun, Everyone!

For a gift idea, How about making Ocean Candles in a Spa Basket?

Ocean Candles, a how to guide.
I did an earlier post on using seashells to make creative items for the home: http://lisakramerartlifestyle.blogspot.com/2011/05/seashells-turn-ordinary-household-item.html.
This was one of the ideas presented in that blog from which a reader asked me to elaborate on the "how to" part of the candle. Since I use this blog to stay inline with my everyday life, I wanted to do this post once I actually was making one for someone.

Recently we were invited to a retirement party and I wanted to come up something more personal than a cheap basket full of unwanted items for this "spa theme" party.
So, here goes...

The handmade candles:

The Gift Basket:

Items you will need to make the basket:
1. Spa Items that you would use (like lotions, foot soak, bath items like sea salts, or go the pedicure /manicure path)
2. A basket that you have or purchase an inexpensive one like the one I bought (see below). Since this gift was for a teacher, I thought a plastic green office file box would be different and fun. I even inserted her name on the file label slot.
3. Tissue paper to put inside the box.
4. Shrink wrap.
5. Ribbon to make a bow, or buy one already made.
6. Sissors or shears.

 The windex is to shine the finger prints off the glass candle holders:

What You will need to make the ocean candles:

1. Two glass candle holders (the dollar store has these for one dollar each).

2. Some shells (this basket of shells was a dollar).

3. Sand, it can be free if you gather it from outside, or you can find inexpensive sand (like I did).

4. Two candles small enough to fit into your glass holders.

BASKET:

First stage of BASKET:  I assembled my basket first, making it attractive and pretty; Then I put it aside. (I added the handmade candles at the end).

1. Tissue paper on bottom.

2. Arrange your goodies in the basket.

The shrink wrap and bow will come later.

How to make the candles:

1. Take your empty glass candle holders:

2. Add sand one third of the way up, making them equal if you are making two.

3. Arrange your shells:

4. Add water. Take your arrangement with or without it's candle to your faucet. If it is not a gift, I add water before placing the candle. However, it does not matter the order.

At faucet take care to gently pour in the water, so you do not disrupt your shells:

*Note: If you are giving it as a gift, it will look like this without water. You simply let them know that they will need to put water in to make the candle float. ;-)

These candles cost $2.50 to make each; $5.00 for two.

5. After water is added. The sand particles (cloudy water) will settle. Simply lay your candle on top of the water.

6. If it is for you and not a gift, light it. ;-)

BASKET:

Second stage of BASKET: Add your newly made candles to your basket.

For me, things got a little crowded, so I had to wiggle things around to fit. It went from this:

To This:

Third stage of BASKET: Now it it time to put your shrink wrap bag around your basket. (When you are purchasing your bag, make sure the measurement of the bag is large enough to go around the basket you will be using).
I suck the air out of the bag and then twist it into a knot to hold the air out before I shrink wrap my basket. Use your blow dryer to make the bag shrink around your gift. The heat will shrink (or kinda melt it a bit).

Fourth stage of BASKET: Make your ribbon and tie it on your shrunk bag.

I made my ribbon, and used the shears to curl some of the extra ribbon. But, you can buy a bow too.

The finished gift:

 Now ready to give to a friend. ;-)

Kids art projects from school, what to do with them? How to display them in the home as interior design verses clutter?

Your children bring home art projects from school and they are too adorable to simply toss out with the rubbish. What can you do with those masterpieces?

My favorite thing to do with the 'most loved' art pieces is to turn them into tiles. You can google a company in your area that will turn kids works into tiles. I had the luxury of building my home, so I could incorporate my youngest's works into the kitchen tiling. However, a small section, like a blackspash, could be remolded to just hold favorite art work that you had made into tiles. Can you think of a better scene to look at while doing the dishes, or cooking? ;-)

 Some of Adler's art works:

 I just love kid's creative imagination!

This one is behind where I hang glasses. My little artist. ;-)

So, just what do you do with the little artist's work in your home?

Kid's are proud of their work. What better way to encourage them than to praise their efforts by giving their work a value equal to the other decorations in your home?

Of course you can frame it:

Or hang it in the form of a hotplate:

Or use as trivits (hotplates) at the dinner table regularly. My favorites are the ones the kids made; you can see they are well used:

These tiles, seen below, are an example of very large tiles, hung as pictures. The kids did not do these, but this is a great example of what you can do to preserve their art:

Or simply hang it "as is" when they hand it to you. ;-)My oldest daughter did this one when she was very young. I have kept it all these years. It is currently placed in a mudroom cubby:

I like to use their works to cover the backs of bookshelves (But you can do any cabinet, shelf, or backsplash to a desk, etc), like wallpaper:

Everyday, capture their wonderful talents on display situations like this one. I asked Meagan to do the menu for our last Crawfish Boil. It is so cute, we still have it up!

On the back of our laundryroom door, I painted magnetic chalkboard paint. Not only is it a good place to house messages to the kids, but to hold drawings, or messages that they feel like leaving:

For everyday projects that come home and need to be rotated; I have put artwork on clips, clipboards and magnetic boards before. I have even used diaper pens on an adorable rope line. Instead of looking like clutter, there is so much more one can do (besides the refigerator door) that actually suits your home. I love the ideas that an interior decorator came up with in this clip for this very reason:

http://gmctradesecrets.aol.com/decor/how-to-display-kids-artwork/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl7%7Csec1_lnk1%7C68124

I hope you enjoy preserving their art and enjoying their creations as they grow into adults. ;-D

A shelf, dedicated to the kid's pottery art in my bedroom. This shelf has an ocean theme. ;-) Too adorable, and it makes me smile. If it makes you smile, isn't that the environment you want to create? Set up spots to "make your day", everyday as you pass by them. ;-D