photo: kate payne

Soon summer will be here, bringing with it a crop of cucumbers (and countless other vegetables) just waiting to be pickled. But for those who are intimidated by the process of water-bath canning for shelf storage (or who just want a crunchy fresh pickle!) there is an easy solution: spices, water, vinegar, salt, and two weeks in the fridge. We love the simplicity of Kate Payne’s Fridge Pickles 101. And that’s just one of many great, fun recipes included in her fab The Hip Girl’s Guide to Homemaking. If you haven’t read about it already, we’re doing a free book giveaway this month. So if you’re hungry for more of Kate’s tips, simply leave a comment telling us what project around the house or in your garden you’re most looking forward to tackling this spring/summer. Make sure you do it by midnight on March 19, at which point we will randomly pick a winner.

Good luck!

Related posts: jars with chalkboard labels to buy or d-i-y
4 great downloadable d-i-y’s from canal house cooking
d-i-y food gift: prunes in armagnac (recipe)
creating your (urban) homestead

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11 replies on “book giveaway: fridge pickles via ‘hip girls guide’…

  1. By March 19? Either I am really late or really early! My project this year (and probably the next few knowing me) is to organize my pile of recipes-to-try!

  2. I always look forward to picking berries and making jam. I’ve been wanting to learn to pickle vegetables also – they make great condiments, and why buy when you can DIY?

  3. Build my pergola – if I can ever figure out how to anchor those posts!

  4. My project this year is to build my potager garden.

  5. Those pickles look great! I’m planning to clean out and re-organize the utility closet on my back porch. I’m a little scared of what I might find there, but I hope to free up enough space for a washer-dryer, if I can get my landlord to spring for one.

  6. I am planting an exquisite garden even though I plan to sell my house this summer. I enjoy imagining the new owners finding and trying the unusally veggies in their new garden!

  7. I am also hoping you meant MAY 19th. My spring project – putting away all the winter clothes that i hopefully won’t need until October/November, and getting rid of the things that I don’t need anymore – a constant process.

  8. Hoping that I grow enough cukes and cabbage to make my own pickles and sauerkraut.

  9. Hmm, I’ve always got a lot of projects on the list, so I guess the one I’m most looking forward to is to finally start canning food this summer. Painting the exterior of the house? Not so much…

  10. Hmm, we have so many projects planned for this summer. I think the one I am looking forward to the most, a French Drain in our lower yard. It mucks up in winter rains so much! With two dogs, our floors are a muddy mess. The 2nd most exciting project would be the tomato canning I plan on doing! We can never have enough tomatoes! Oh and making Kimchi!

  11. I’m looking forward to canning some tomatoes and pasta sauce. YUM!

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