Pickled Okra w/o Boiling Water Bath

9/2/2019 – Following the advice found at canning forums, as extracted here, I prepared two pints of fresh okra per the following. One of the jars did not seal so it was put into the refrigerator. On 10/28/2019 we opened the second jar whose lid was still indented–it had maintained its vacuum. The okra was crispy and the garlic was crunchy. This is definitely one to try again.

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Sweet + Hot Pepper Ferments

9/1/2019 – We made two different ferments with Sweet Banana peppers and Hot Hungarian Wax peppers from our garden. They should have been based on our first pepper ferment, done in a hurry while pickling peppers but we did not record what we did. So, we do not know the salt percent of the brine. As past ferments with jalapenos were not crunchy until the brine was 6%, we made both these with a 6% brine.

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Bacon Jam ToTry

Ingredients

  • 1.5 pounds sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 Medium yellow onions, diced small
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cane syrup
  • 3/4 cup brewed coffee

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until fat is rendered and bacon is lightly browned about 20 minutes.
  2. With a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain.
  3. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet (reserve for another use); add onions and garlic, and cook until onions are translucent about 6 minutes.
  4. Add vinegar, brown sugar, maple syrup, and coffee and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping up browned bits from skillet with a wooden spoon, about 2 minutes.
  5. Add bacon and stir to combine.
  6. Transfer mixture to a 6-quart slow cooker and cook on high, uncovered, until liquid is syrupy, 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
  7. Transfer to a food processor; pulse until coarsely chopped. Let cool, then refrigerate in airtight containers, up to 4 weeks.

Pepperoncini Ferment with Banana Peppers, No. 1

About 8/20/2019 – In late September, we opened a pint jar of fermented banana peppers with seasonings, onion, and a few red pepper slices. It was really good. Came back here to find the entry and could not. So, below is what we think is in it and this post is dated when we think it was made. On 1/1/2020 finished a quart that has been in the refrigerator a while. The peppers and onions were crunchy. This was a great ferment.

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