Refrigerator Pickles

People have been slamming the CSA this year, so much so that the folks who run it felt obliged to issue an open letter to the subscribers. A mea culpa, it wasn't. They basically called out the complainers, saying that they were hurt by the insensitive comments and that subscribers needed to understand the nature of "community agriculture."

I guess that I can see both sides. To the complainers, shut the &^$% up! If you don't like it, go to Whole Foods.

To the CSA, why not offer your subscribers some alternatives in times that crops are slim? A couple of organic, free range eggs? Some flowers? Little tokens like this would make a big difference.

Anyway, we've received a dearth of cukes this past week, so I saw no recourse other than to pickle them. So I made picked cucumbers and zucchini (also in abundance) and threw in some onions and carrots for variety.

Ted Allen has a pretty sure-fire recipe. Too bad he's on that horrible channel called Food Network.

-10 cloves garlic, peeled
-2 cups white vinegar
-6 teaspoons kosher salt
-Several sprigs of fresh dill
-1 teaspoon celery seed
-1 teaspoon coriander seed
-1 teaspoon mustard seed
-1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
-1/2 teaspoon pink peppercorns (if you have 'em)

In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil, reduce the heat so the water simmers and add the garlic. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and salt, raise the heat and bring to a boil, stirring until the salt dissolves. Remove from the heat.

In 2 clear 1-quart jars, place a few sprigs of dill. Divide the seeds and peppercorns between the jars. Using tongs, remove the garlic from the brine and place 5 cloves in each jar. Then pack the jars full of cucumbers, carrots, scallions or green beans, cauliflower and chiles. You want them to be tightly stuffed.

Bring the brine back to a boil, pour it over the vegetables to cover completely, let cool, then cover and refrigerate. The pickles will taste good in just a few hours, better after a couple of days. And they'll keep for about 3 months.