Latest sweet relish production.
I believe I have just about canned enough pickles this year. Current count:
Bread and Butter Pickles (16 pints and 5 quarts)
Sweet Gherkin Pickles (8 pints)
Dede’s Sweet Relish (16 pints and one half-pint)
Dill Pickles (8 pints)
I’ll be canning some more sweet gherkins next week. I’m still saving up tiny cukes for that one. Other than that, I think I need to stop. We’re having a bumper cucumber crop this year, but there comes a point where it’s just silly and a waste of resources (time, jars, propane) to put away more. I’m providing for our needs, not stocking a pickle warehouse. I already have more than plenty to use and to give away to friends and family. I started canning the bread and butter pickles in quarts because I was using up too many pint jars on pickles. I have a zillion quart jars, but much fewer pint and half-pint jars. Pint and half-pint jars tend to be the size that stuff goes in that you give away, particularly jam, and there goes the jar…….. The only person I can count on to give me my jars back after she finishes whatever I gave her is Georgia. She’s an old-time home canner–she knows the value of a jar and she knows that I need it back so that I can give her something new in the jar.
Quart jars of bread and butter pickles.
With all the bread and butter pickling lately, I got curious about bread and butter pickles. Why are they called bread and butter pickles? A brief search led me to numerous websites all offering up one or the other of two theories. Either bread and butter pickles are so named because during the Depression, they were as common as bread and butter OR during the Depression people ate bread and butter with pickles because that was all they could afford. In either case, it appears to be a type of pickle popularized during the Depression era.
Bread and butter pickles are a happy combination of just enough sugar with just enough vinegar to be sweet but not cloying, and they’re very easy to make (and can). The store-bought variety seems to be the pickles only most of the time, but your home recipe usually comes with sliced onions along with the other usual suspects in a pickle recipe. Pickles are cheap. If you have a good cucumber year, that’s a lot of pickles. Many people during the Depression would have been growing their own gardens and had their own onions, too.
I have absolutely zero authority for this statement, but I suspect the second explanation (that people during the Depression ate pickles on buttered bread) is the correct one. Homemade bread, butter from the family cow, and pickles from the garden. I can see people down on their financial luck calling that lunch. Or at least a tasty snack. Calling them bread and butter pickles just because they’re common? Apple pie is common. Why don’t we have bread and butter pie? And so on.
To further shore up my meaningless assertion of this insignificant historical point, I buttered a piece of bread and put some pickles on it.
And ate it.
And it was quite tasty.
Now I’m an authority!
Or something. Anyway! Who wants a BBB today?
It’s a Ball Blue Book Project day! Today’s Ball Blue Book is sponsored by JeannieB in honor of her mother, Helen Sharpe Frazee.
For a chance to win: Leave a comment on this post and let me know you want it. You can just put (BBB) at the end of your comment or otherwise note that you want to be in the draw. One winner will be drawn by random comment number to receive a Ball Blue Book. Eligible entry cut-off is midnight Eastern (U.S.) time tonight (July 22). This post will be updated with the winner by 9 a.m. Eastern (U.S.) time tomorrow (July 23). Return to this post to claim your book if your name is drawn (or check the BBB Winners List).
Find out more about the Ball Blue Book Project and become a sponsor.
NOTE: You must be registered to comment. If you’re not registered, you can register here. If you’re already registered but not logged in, go here to log in.
UPDATE 07/23/11: The winning comment number, drawn by random.org, is comment #3, morningstar. Email me at [email protected] with your full name and address for shipping!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO ENTRY.
Sheila Z says:
I believe your theory is the correct one. Bread and Butter pickles because you ate them with bread and butter and you liked it that way! You better have liked it because that’s all there was on the table to eat.
On July 22, 2011 at 1:29 am
collector1 says:
BBB please. Thank you!
On July 22, 2011 at 4:09 am
morningstar says:
They look real scrummy and have made my mouth water just looking at the pictures !!!! Please enter me for a chance of the BBB, thank you
On July 22, 2011 at 4:22 am
tea4too0 says:
I can remember the smell of great granny’s kitchen after pickling dills. I can see the whole sprig of dill in the jar, and the taste is still on my tongue. Yum. Thank you for the memory refresh. Please enter me in the contest, T
On July 22, 2011 at 4:36 am
lavenderblue says:
Bread and butter pickles were my parents favorite pickle. We had jars and jars and jars. They were children during the depression so that is probably why. Long after they could afford what they wanted to buy (for the most part), they kept depression sensibilities and a pickle recipe that didn’t use a lot of sugar would certainly have appealed to my mom.
Me, I’m a dill pickle person, myself. My mother could not raise dill, I, myself, am dill challenged. The neighbor not only raised wonderful dill but made wonderful dill pickles. There was a lot of swapping going on. We traded pickle for pickle but water for the dill weed because her water had sulpher in it and when she wanted to make pickles, she needed different water. It probably really wasn’t a trade, just what neighbors do.
Mom also ate bread with her french fries, her family had that for supper when she was a girl many nights, she said. Yuk!
BBB, please.
On July 22, 2011 at 5:35 am
jim says:
BB Book please
On July 22, 2011 at 6:31 am
Vicki in So. CA says:
So far I’ve picked only 2 cukes. I started late, but pickles are in my future too.
In answer to your question… I do, I DO!!! Pick me you rascally random picker. Thank you very much!
On July 22, 2011 at 6:34 am
TRUDY says:
I just made some refrigerator pickles yesterday and ate some on a sandwich last evening ~ yummo!
BBB, please!!
On July 22, 2011 at 6:52 am
wvhomecanner says:
Suzanne, your sandwich was missing peanut butter! :hungry:
On July 22, 2011 at 7:07 am
GaPeach says:
I have been making freezer sweet pickles. YUM!
BBB, please.
On July 22, 2011 at 7:08 am
prayingpup says:
I’ve made dills & the Crispy Freezer Pickles from Farm Bell Recipes. I have to say I had my doubts about the freezer pickles being crispy, but they were & they don’t use a lot of sugar. I just love them & if you want to save on jars, freezer pickles is a great idea! BBB please!
On July 22, 2011 at 7:23 am
justdeborah2002 says:
oh yes, I would love the chance to win a BBB!
On July 22, 2011 at 7:27 am
kelly jo kirby says:
Please sign me up for the BBB! I wasn’t able to plant my garden until 3 weeks ago and it is doing amazingly well. I would really need the book come this fall to help me put up my garden.
On July 22, 2011 at 7:31 am
farm maid says:
Suzanne, I have to tell you that I had almost given up making pickles until I saw your recent posts on your pickle making. You inspired me to give pickles another try. Last week, I made Dede’s Refrigerator dill and the sweet pickles – both great. I have the bread and butter pickles soaking in the frig and will can them today. A BBB would be a welcome gift.
On July 22, 2011 at 7:42 am
joeyfulnoise says:
My cukes are coming in very slowly, so today is the first day for pickles here. BBB please!
On July 22, 2011 at 7:50 am
debg says:
No cucumbers for me yet. But soon (I hope). BBB please.
On July 22, 2011 at 8:05 am
marymac says:
I have surely ate my share of bread n butter pickles on bread n butter!!! It is delish. BBB please.
On July 22, 2011 at 8:06 am
Breezy says:
Mmmm, mmmmm, pickles – any kind of pickles! :wave: (BBB)
On July 22, 2011 at 8:14 am
ejc says:
Looks good! BBB please.
On July 22, 2011 at 8:21 am
naomibeth3 says:
BBB Please :snoopy:
On July 22, 2011 at 8:31 am
jrrus95 says:
Just made my first batch of dill pickles two days ago! Going to try the bread and butter soon! looke delish! :sheepjump: BBB!
On July 22, 2011 at 8:33 am
Darlene in North GA says:
I would, :woof: I would! :snoopy:
Thanks!
On July 22, 2011 at 8:34 am
mamajoseph says:
Still waiting to win a BBB! :happyfeet:
On July 22, 2011 at 8:35 am
csteinme says:
I love bread and butter pickles! BBB please.
On July 22, 2011 at 8:36 am
kpbarnett says:
These are excellent in grilled cheese sandwiches, especially with the onions!
BBB – no thanks.
On July 22, 2011 at 8:52 am
Chicken Crossing says:
I just canned some pickles using your sweet gerkin recipe. They turned out great! Thanks! I am in desparate need of a BBB book. My DH threw mine out (he denies it, but it was in shreds and he’s a bit of a neat freak, so he’s my prime suspect) If I don’t win one I will by buying one. If I purchase one from the link on your blog will you get a kick back for it. If so that’s how I’ll do it. Thanks. BBB
On July 22, 2011 at 8:56 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Chicken Crossing, no, I don’t have a link to the BBB that pays me anything.
On July 22, 2011 at 9:09 am
TeresaJM says:
Sitting here drinking my (absolute last & I mean it this time) cup of coffee and thinking that bread w/pickles meal looks tasty!
BBB please
On July 22, 2011 at 9:05 am
FakeItFrugal says:
Those Bread & Butters look GOOD! I desperately need a BBB book – I have the canner and all the equipment, but I’d love to have a real reference book! Cheers!
On July 22, 2011 at 9:05 am
Sue, a Florida Farm Girl says:
Suzanne — you need to make cinnamon redhot pickles!!! They’re wonderful and go with all manner of foods. Besides, you can fake people out who absolutely insist they are spiced apples! I’ve had people just refuse to believe what they just ate was a cucumber.
On July 22, 2011 at 9:10 am
boo21smom says:
I just store bought bread and butter pickles last weekend. If I had a BBB book, I could make my own! I hope I win! Thank you!
On July 22, 2011 at 9:14 am
susyque says:
Have you ever made Lime Pickles? Very crisp and crunchy!
On July 22, 2011 at 9:15 am
Kathi says:
That’s a lot of pickles!
Yes, BBB please.
On July 22, 2011 at 9:17 am
countrygirl221 says:
Those bread and butter pickles look delicious! BBB Please! Thanks. :snoopy:
On July 22, 2011 at 9:21 am
JanaBanana says:
I have always wanted to make these! Yours look like they belong in a Better Homes magazine! YUM! Please enter me in the drawing… thanks! :snoopy:
{BBB}
On July 22, 2011 at 9:31 am
gerryvoland says:
Makes me wish we planted cucumbers this year. We did, however, try cantalope and watermelon for the first time in years and they are producing nicely. Haven’t harvested our first fruits yet, but soon! I want the BBB!
On July 22, 2011 at 9:32 am
Leila says:
I’d love to win it!
On July 22, 2011 at 9:48 am
cabynfevr says:
I would love to win a BBB but not for the pickles, eww!
On July 22, 2011 at 10:14 am
Aggiemom says:
:woof: :woof: :woof: :woof: :woof: :woof: :woof: :woof: :woof: :woof:
I would love to have a BBB. I have no home canned pickles. My cukes have burned to a crisp, and not crisp as in crispy pickles.
Thanks for the oportunity for a BBB.
On July 22, 2011 at 10:17 am
boulderneigh says:
Me, please!
On July 22, 2011 at 10:20 am
CrystalGB says:
I would love to have the BBB. I have canning lots of grean beans. 😀
On July 22, 2011 at 10:23 am
clh063538 says:
Would love BBB please!
On July 22, 2011 at 10:29 am
jkubemt1 says:
Bread and Butter pickles are my fav. I’ve been know to just open a jar and eat the whole thing. Yummy. BBB PLEASE!!!!! :turtle:
On July 22, 2011 at 10:33 am
joykenn says:
Looks yummy. I’d love to win the BBB. I like the idea that you control the amount of sugar as some store pickles are too sweet. I still like to know I’m eating a cucumber and not a sugar stick. And I’m not too fond of dills that are too sour.
This has been the wierdest summer in a long time. Too cold, then much too hot and no rain. Haven’t seen many cucumbers and not as much squash or zuchs as usual so prices in farmer’s market are still high.
Suzanne, got anyone around who doesn’t have too many cucumbers and might trade you some other vegetable. If not, the goats would LOVE, LOVE to get some cucumbers, I bet.
On July 22, 2011 at 10:57 am
Ramona Slocum says:
I grew up eating Bread and Butter Pickles. My mom taught me to make all kinds of pickles. I made them for my family. Many good memories.
BBB for me please.
MN Mona
On July 22, 2011 at 11:02 am
ladydragon517 says:
I would love to win one! My cucumber crop isn’t bountiful, but I plan on buying some pickling cukes from one of my local farmer’s markets. I want to make bread and butter pickles, a family favorite with onions, cauliflower and carrots.
On July 22, 2011 at 11:04 am
AndiK says:
My favorites are definitely dill pickles, and I’d love to learn how to make them! Count me in for the BBB, please.
On July 22, 2011 at 11:11 am
alosyu says:
Am just starting to learn more about pickling, so, would love a BBB,please
On July 22, 2011 at 11:14 am
pdelainey says:
BBB Please :clover:
On July 22, 2011 at 11:16 am
luvliljo says:
I would love to be entered into the drawing. I am trying to learn how to can, so far I’ve made some pinto beans, they are awesome! I love being able to provide for my family this way!
On July 22, 2011 at 11:19 am
leann says:
Yum…bread and butter pickles. We like them on turkey sandwiches, not with deli turkey, but leftover roasted turkey, preferably on homemade bread.
Did you ask Georgia why they are called bread and butter pickles? I’m curious about what she would say. 🙂
BBB, please. :happyflower:
On July 22, 2011 at 11:51 am
marjohalleran says:
oh id love to win the book :)!!!!!
BBB! Please
On July 22, 2011 at 11:57 am
sam says:
the pickles look delish. I would love BBB.
sam
On July 22, 2011 at 11:59 am
AmyCook in WI says:
My favorite thing after having a hot dog, hamburger or something with the “fixings” is to take a half bun, put on the leftover onions, pickles with some mustard and have my dessert! My hubby thinks I’m nuts, but I love it and should just have that for lunch, but never think of it ’cause we got too much food!
Thanks for the chance for a BBB.
On July 22, 2011 at 12:02 pm
langela says:
Count me in. I’ve been pickling zucchini, as everyone who has tried it around here, requests more. In my opinion, they are so much better than pickled cukes.
On July 22, 2011 at 12:05 pm
mygirls01 says:
BBB please!
On July 22, 2011 at 12:19 pm
momtoadiva says:
BBB please 🙂
On July 22, 2011 at 12:21 pm
mrsdmahogany says:
My mom always made bread and butter pickles and she always ate bread with her bread and butter pickles! We are still aways from our cucumbers (short, cold growing season) but there are flowers on my vines! Now all I need is a BBB and my quest is complete! BBB please!!
Dianna
On July 22, 2011 at 12:25 pm
azladychef says:
BBB please!
Thanks Suzanne and JeannieB for another chance.
On July 22, 2011 at 12:32 pm
oct4luv says:
I’m ready to learn how to can. I hope I win!
On July 22, 2011 at 12:41 pm
jeepdriver says:
BBB please. I always thought that bread and butters became popular because they required less sugar and since sugar was rationed during the war, many folks just couldn’t afford it. Sweet pickles were the best but bread and butters came very, very close. Oh, and try some cheese on your sandwhich. Really good with cheddar.
On July 22, 2011 at 12:48 pm
melonhead says:
I agree with your theory. And I have about the same amount of authority as you. : ) BBB, please! Thanks. 😆
On July 22, 2011 at 1:21 pm
MissyinWV says:
I just finished canning 4 quarts of dill pickles so it was a perfect day time to sit down and read your post!!! :sun: I imagine you are right about your theory because when I was growing up we had cucumber sandwiches with just cucumbers and butter on them….AND THEY ARE GOOD!!! I’ll have to try the pickles! BBB please..Thanks
On July 22, 2011 at 1:48 pm
HobbyHillFarm says:
BBB, please! Thank you. Just learned to can Pickles and Beans at the local extension and we used the Ball Blue Book. It was great!!
On July 22, 2011 at 1:49 pm
artsjoy says:
Would luv a BBB!!! :snoopy: Did my first canning last weekend…well sort of… I made freezer jam for the first time. Yum! :eating:
On July 22, 2011 at 1:49 pm
JerseyMom says:
We always had bread and butter pickles growing up and my Grandma canned them. I am a dill fan myself but like a b&b once in a while, especially at Thanksgiving where they belong on the relish tray next to the olives and stuffed celery. I expect our cucumbers are about cooked on the vine – it’s 99 degrees and humid so feels like 113 😥
Add me to the BBB please, just in case anything survives to be canned!
On July 22, 2011 at 2:07 pm
beneathhiswings says:
BBB, please.
On July 22, 2011 at 2:28 pm
DebbieInMemphis says:
I need to make some pickles, but I need a BBB to can them 🙂
On July 22, 2011 at 2:48 pm
turtle says:
I love pickles, except my German friend Doris says pickles mean zits in German, so she prefers that I refer to them as gherkins. As gherkins go, I have not had a better one in the United States than anything I’ve ever had in Europe (Germany and France at least). I wish I knew why. Might it be the perservatives used in canning the (store-bought) American gherkins? Maybe I should just learn to can my own? A BBB might help 🙂
On July 22, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Liz says:
:happyfeet: See those happy feet? I am tickled and will be
in the PICKLE soon as I win! :happyfeet:
On July 22, 2011 at 3:25 pm
scollard says:
BBB, please! :wave:
On July 22, 2011 at 3:30 pm
aprilejoi says:
Suzanne- you mentioned saving your gherkins untill yu hade enough to can. How are you saving them, by freezing? or just refrigerating? Thanks! and, oh, BBB!
On July 22, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
aprilejoi, I put the little gherkins cucumbers in my cheese fridge to keep them because it’s not overly cold but will help them keep longer. Hopefully I will have enough by next week. You wouldn’t want to freeze them!
On July 22, 2011 at 4:16 pm
GrammieEarth says:
BBB Please! My adult tongue prefers the dill or sour type pickles, and I absolutely love cucumbers as they ‘are’! I have been known to make and sometimes enjoy the sweeter type of pickle. Mixed pickles with cauliflower…I love the cauliflower part! If I was the one to open the jar…say goodbye to the top chunks of cauliflower :eating:
🙂 Pam
On July 22, 2011 at 4:38 pm
oddgirl says:
BBB please.
On July 22, 2011 at 4:49 pm
mammaleigh says:
I would love to get a BBB!
Thank you! :clover: :clover: :clover: :clover: (I need all the luck that I can get today!)
On July 22, 2011 at 4:54 pm
lovemyhens says:
would love to learn how to can!
BBB please!!!
On July 22, 2011 at 5:02 pm
wannabee says:
I would love a BBB!
On July 22, 2011 at 5:51 pm
cindyinohio says:
Oh, now I want to make some sweet pickle relish. Looks great!
BBB me please!
On July 22, 2011 at 6:11 pm
LisaAJB says:
BBB me! But I won’t be making bread and butter pickles. I’m a dill lady.
On July 22, 2011 at 6:28 pm
Ann says:
Thank You for the chance! BBB!
On July 22, 2011 at 8:40 pm
tractor57 says:
Pickles always pickles!
BnB, dill, relish, pickled beets, pickled okra and many more
On July 22, 2011 at 9:09 pm
brookdale says:
Boy you sure have been busy with all the pickles!
Would love to have a BBB…maybe I can make some pickles too.
On July 22, 2011 at 9:15 pm
VABigMama says:
I just bought my first canner! BBB please!
On July 22, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Lana says:
I am a major dill pickle fan – I don’t remember ever eating a bread and butter pickle, but I will definitely have to try them. Please enter me in the BBB drawing!
On July 22, 2011 at 10:31 pm
margie2408 says:
I think you are right on about the bread and the butter and the pickles- those were hard times, but we one the farm ate like kings!
Send me a book!
On July 23, 2011 at 7:11 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
UPDATE 07/23/11: The winning comment number, drawn by random.org, is comment #3, morningstar.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO ENTRY.
On July 23, 2011 at 7:23 am
Wildflower_VA says:
You are finished canning pickles, and I have just started! Unfortunately, my cucumbers (and squash) just started to produce heavily at the same time the weather decided to start throwing 100 degree days one after the other. So far, I have only made squash and cucumber refrigerator pickle, but they hit the spot for me.
I make bread & butter, lime pickle, squash pickle, relish, pickled green tomatoes and dill pickles. I am a pickle fiend!
On July 23, 2011 at 2:35 pm
morningstar says:
I can not believe that I was the chosen one for the BBB and am so excited. Thank you so much JeannieB I will be honoured to put it in to good use in the memory of your mother, Helen Sharpe Frazee. Bless you all xxxxxxx
On July 23, 2011 at 3:13 pm