Every family has it's recipes. It has those foods that you just don't get at other people's
houses. When new members enter the family, they simply must try this recipe to really become part of the family. In the
Ballou family, that food is Slippery Jacks. These pickles are what some might call "tongue pickles." They look
awful, but taste great! Instead of the
ubiquitous dill, these are flavored with
cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
I have never made the family's Slippery Jacks before, so when I planted a garden this year, I made sure I planted cucumbers. I let them
ripen as long as I dared, and they didn't turn out too big, but I thought I would try anyway. Mom and Dad say that if you let them ripen to yellow, you don't have to boil them as long. I was afraid mine would get eaten, so I picked them a bit green. The look more like eggs after you peel and
de-seed them.
After I soaked them in water and salt overnight, I was ready to add the vinegar, sugar, water, and spices and cook them up!
I did already say they look weird didn't I?
They may have needed to cook awhile longer, but I didn't want to end up with mush, so I tried to stop the cooking after they were mostly translucent.
Did I mention I only got enough
cukes for one jar! Did I also mention I have never canned anything before in my life?
The end result! Well, I hope to crack them open this holiday season and see how I did. Hopefully I can grow more cucumbers next year and try to get a bigger batch. I'll let you know how they turned out.
Every family has it's recipes. It has those foods that you just don't get at other people's houses. When new members enter the family, they simply must try this recipe to really become part of the family. In the Ballou family, that food is Slippery Jacks. These pickles are what some might call "tongue pickles." They look awful, but taste great! Instead of the ubiquitous dill, these are flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
I have never made the family's Slippery Jacks before, so when I planted a garden this year, I made sure I planted cucumbers. I let them ripen as long as I dared, and they didn't turn out too big, but I thought I would try anyway. Mom and Dad say that if you let them ripen to yellow, you don't have to boil them as long. I was afraid mine would get eaten, so I picked them a bit green. The look more like eggs after you peel and de-seed them.
After I soaked them in water and salt overnight, I was ready to add the vinegar, sugar, water, and spices and cook them up!
I did already say they look weird didn't I?
They may have needed to cook awhile longer, but I didn't want to end up with mush, so I tried to stop the cooking after they were mostly translucent.
Did I mention I only got enough cukes for one jar! Did I also mention I have never canned anything before in my life?
The end result! Well, I hope to crack them open this holiday season and see how I did. Hopefully I can grow more cucumbers next year and try to get a bigger batch. I'll let you know how they turned out.
Only one Jar!!! Guess that one won't be shared at the Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings.
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't happen to have the actual ingredient list for this recipe, would you, Jack? I've been chasing this thing all over to surprise my husband with a blast from his childhood. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you, Sherma
ReplyDeleteazst909@gmail.com