Refrigerator Pickles (Jessie)

Ingredients

Cucumbers: Use fresh and unblemished; the smaller the better Can use other veggies (eg, carrots, beets) but combine veggies of similar density Avoid any stems Brine: 3 cups vinegar (at least 5% acidity) 2 cups water ¾ cup sea or kosher salt Peppercorns Mustard seeds, etc Fresh dill A little sugar (optional)

Directions

Makes about three 16 oz jars Preparing jars: To sterilize jars and rims that have been previously used, place clean ones in a 250F oven on a towel-lined baking sheet for at least 30 minutes. Use new lids. Preparing veggies: Wash and set cucumbers in sterilized, hot jars. Leave ½ inch head space. Make brine and bring to a boil and pour over cucumbers. These should be fully submerged. Punch out any air bubbles. Seal and keep in fridge. Cucumbers will be ready in a few days but give carrots and beets up to a week. Will keep for about 1 month.

Implements

-Large pot -Sterilized jars

Comments

Good cucumbers in LA: Valdivia Farms Good dill in LA: Tamai Family Farms

Foolproof Pie Crust using a Cuisinart machine

Ingredients
1 1/8 cup Flour
1 stick butter - cold as possible - diced
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 cup ice water

Directions
Put on an apron because the food processor will spew out flour dust in the beginning
With the normal blade in the cuisinart, add the flour and butter.

Pulse the machine as the butter is cut into the flour using as few cycles as you need to do the job. Once the dough is chopped, slowly add the cold, cold water while pulsing.

Dump the ingredients out onto a bread board or pastry cloth and pull it all together making a ball with your hands.

Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Pre-heat oven to 350 F

Roll out the dough large enough to cover your pie pan and pinch the rim to keep the crust from pulling away during the "pre-cook" phase. Try not to overwork the dough. Prick bottom with a fork in a few places.

Put crust into oven and cook for about 10-12 minutes (convection oven) until slightly firm, but not brown.

Take crust out of oven and finish the baking of whatever you are making.

Implements
Cuisinart machine
pastry cloth or bread board

Comments
I use this crust for quiche and add spices to it (like basil and sun dried tomatoes).
Makes one 9" crust. - double for a covered fruit pie.