Tag: spice

Quick Garlic Dill Pickles 

Published on by friendlyfoodforus1 Comment

Yesterday I went out into the garden and was delighted to see I could pick my first harvest! Whoa Hoo!!!!!

Although I only got a handful of raspberries and enough lettuce to make an awesome salad for lunch, I did get a bunch of cucumbers, fresh dill and garlic! What was a girl to do? Make refrigerator dill pickles of course!!! 


I will never can pickles. I just don’t see the point to cooking them and turning them soggy. Refrigerator pickles are super fresh, crunchy and only take a couple days to become delishous! They last up to 12 weeks in the fridge (if you don’t eat them by then) and you can play around with flavours since they are so easy to make! This jar only took me 15 minutes!! 

Quick Garlic Dill Pickles (makes 1 quart)

  • 3-5 small pickling cucumbers (enough to pack them in there good)
  • 2 chopped cloves of garlic
  • Fresh dill, or dill seed
  • 1 tsp peppercorns
  • 1 tsp crushed peppers 
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup cider vinegar

Just put everything into a jar, top up with water to the rim and let sit in the fridge for 2 or 3 days and enjoy!!

This is a starter recipe for me. Depending on your taste, play around with mustard seed, regular vinegar, other spices, etc. It is so easy to make these, you can make a jar in less than 15 minutes, so get creative!! 


Spiced Rhubarb Jam Recipe

Published on by friendlyfoodforus2 Comments

When rhubarb comes in season, I cannot resist making this delicious jam that is so good with so many things! It was perfect on toast, crackers, in oatmeal, yogurt and perfect for canning so you can enjoy on cold winter nights. It is also amazing with cheese, on a pork roast or over ice cream. I do have a recipe for spiced rhubarb bars that are also to die for. Ask me for the recipe if you want it!

So start with some rhubarb, the redder the juicer! We grow it right in our garden so I am always waiting for it to ripen just to make this recipe!



Put rhubarb in a pot with brown sugar, lemon juice and spices. Let sit for 20-30 minutes to start extracting the natural juices out of the rhubarb. There! Now the hardest part is done! Feel free to pour a tea or relax outside with a good book!



Once the rhubarb starts creating liquid, put it in the stove on low for 1-3 hours depending on the total amount of sugar, rhubarb and the temperature of your stove.

You will know when it’s done when you can split the jam with a spoon and it stays like in the picture below:


I just put it in a big jar in my fridge because let’s face it, it doesn’t last long enough to worry about canning it. If you have a large supply of rhubarb and want to do this in a large batch (perfect for Christmas presents!), place it in a boiling bath for 10 minutes after canning and you are good to go! My friends practically knock down my door for a jar of this when I make it. It is like instant popularity!!

If you are new to canning,  check out this great starter canning kit from Amazon that has everything you need to get you started for super cheap! This kit will pay for itself over and over again as you continue to enjoy seasonal treats all year long!

Amazon also has some great deals on mason jars if you are up for the challenge! I am telling you, you will want to make lots of spiced rhubarb jam, especially once your friends start asking you for some every spring!

So there you have it! I wish you could smell it as you read this because that is the thing that will tip you over the edge with the recipe. The sourness of the rhubarb mixed with the sweetness of the brown sugar and all of the spices must be something straight out of heaven!

Try it and let me know what you think 😁

Spiced Rhubarb Jam Recipe – recipe makes 4 x 8 oz jars

That is all! No pectin, no crazy ingredients. Just let cook down on low until it is nice and think (1-3 hours depending on size of rhubarb, amount of sugar and how hot your burner is) and enjoy the amazing aroma in your house!

Bon appetite!