pickled vegetables

If you can't bear the thought of this year's beloved heirloom and Early Girl tomato crop coming to an end, there are two things you can do to prolong your enjoyment of Summer's sweet and seedy fruits. If you're really itching to enjoy them in a few months, learn how to can them. Or, if you find the idea of pressurizing any sort of jar in boiling water intimidates you, there's always quick-and-dirty pickling.

If you belong to the latter camp, I highly recommend this farm-stand tomato recipe; it only requires a few hours before it's totally ready to consume. These pickled tomatoes have a smoky, slightly spicy flavor that comes from cumin, fresh ginger, and jalapeños. The high proportion of olive oil in the base imparts a mild flavor on the tomatoes (although you can play with the proportions for a more pickled taste), and the tomatoes last up to three days when refrigerated. Keep reading to see the recipe with step-by-step photos.

Party and I are huge fans of making our own ingredients when possible, rather than using store-bought materials. We've had artichokes on the brain these days, and when she told me that she was itching to put together a classic artichoke dip, I decided I'd make my own version of canned artichokes to give to her.

Because I wanted to make a lot of cans, I doubled the recipe — and in a matter of minutes, I had bright-flavored, zesty jars of artichokes that are great edible gifts. The multi-purpose vegetables keep for up to a week and are great on everything from pastas to salads to scrambles. To get the super quick recipe, read more

I am a diehard pickle fanatic, but I realize the same doesn't apply for everyone. This easy pickling recipe for spicy vegetables, however, could convert even the biggest pickle skeptic. The medley of crisp haricots verts and pearl onions goes well in conjunction with meaty carrots and a subtle jalapeño bite.
These veggies are the perfect accessory for a Bloody Mary or lunchtime sandwich. Although this recipe makes a large amount of pickles, my supply is dwindling fast! To stock up on your own, read more

National Pickle Month may be coming to a close, but pickles are delicious in any month. With a bounty of Summer produce and the rising costs of prepared food, more and more people are taking up home canning. Because pickles happen to be one of my favorite snacks, I decided to take a stab at making them. However, I'm an impatient cook, an attribute that isn't conducive to making pickles. When I came across this recipe for quick dill pickles, I knew it was perfect. To see how these spears went from cucumbers to pickles in under three hours, read more

Every time I visit my mom, she always sends me home with jars of her homemade pao tsai, aka pickled vegetables. Hers are sort of like kimchee and they're a little bit spicy and a little bit sweet. Last week, when I visited my mom, she only had one jar to hand over and demanded that I give it to my sister. Her reasoning was that my sister was busy and that I could just make my own. I couldn't really argue with her and decided to prove to her that I could. The technique is actually really simple and quick — it took about 15 minutes to make, plus a day to sit — and the results are pretty nice. See the recipe I used — just tweak it to suit your own palate — when you read more