I’ve been on a little bitty cucumber quest since last year when we tried to grow some little bitty cucumbers so I could make some little bitty pickles. It’s all right to be little bitty…. (I like that song.) Anyway! So last year I had to go out of town unexpectedly and the cucumbers got too big while I was gone. You gotta harvest the little bitties when it’s time or you’re sunk. Or not totally sunk, but there goes your sweet little Gherkin pickle dream. And sweet little Gherkins are my favorites.
I’m trying again this year.
In case you love sweet little bitty baby pickles, too, I posted the recipe from the BBB here: Sweet Gherkin Pickles.
You have any thwarted canning dreams you’re trying to make come true in your garden this year?
Need a BBB to go along with your pickles (or whatever you’re dreaming of)?
It’s a Ball Blue Book Project day! Today’s Ball Blue Book is sponsored by CB in TN!
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 (May 26). This post will be updated with the winner by 9 a.m. Eastern (U.S.) time tomorrow (May 27). 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 05/27/11: The winning comment number, drawn by random.org, is comment #30, Zusiqu. Email me at [email protected] with your full name and address for shipping!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO ENTRY.
Richelle says:
Yes, BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 3:53 am
Sheila Z says:
If they get too big think hot dog relish. The recipe I use makes a sweet relish with a bit of kick using hot red peppers.
On May 26, 2011 at 4:53 am
Glenda says:
I don’t need the BBB. I bought a new one last year.
The link for the recipe isn’t working for me. I get a 404 error message.
On May 26, 2011 at 5:40 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Sorry about the link! I fixed it now. Thanks for letting me know.
On May 26, 2011 at 6:09 am
judydee says:
I like to make pickles after the cucumbers are ripe, that is when they are yellow and look like little blimps. It is a long process involving multiple soakings and rinsings, but oh so good with vegetables! Please enter me for the BBB.
On May 26, 2011 at 5:45 am
collector1 says:
Yum – pickles! BBB please — thanks :butterfly:
On May 26, 2011 at 5:45 am
aprilejoi says:
I LOVE pickles! BBB! Thank you!
On May 26, 2011 at 5:48 am
cabighorse says:
Oh the wonders and joys of preserving your own food. For me, I’d love a BBB
On May 26, 2011 at 6:23 am
rileighsmom1 says:
BBB please and thank you!
On May 26, 2011 at 6:53 am
Kathy in FL says:
I don’t really care for pickles, but love relish! BBB, please!
On May 26, 2011 at 7:12 am
Gem says:
BBB for me, me, ME! (please.)
On May 26, 2011 at 7:25 am
kelly jo kirby says:
Please pick me for the BBB. I think you are the BEST!
On May 26, 2011 at 7:33 am
justdeborah2002 says:
My canning dreams from my garden were thwarted when the apartments where I live told me I couldn’t create a garden behind my unit…so I will have to just buy what I want to can this year. One day I will grow my own!
Oh, and I would love to win a BBB, please.
On May 26, 2011 at 7:52 am
ConnieH says:
BBB Please!
On May 26, 2011 at 8:02 am
Rockyshore says:
I’m gonna try again, BBB, please.
On May 26, 2011 at 8:05 am
alosyu says:
Would love the BBB,please.
On May 26, 2011 at 8:05 am
prayingpup says:
This year is my pickle dream year . . . . I planted and I hope to have LOTS of cucumbers . . . . BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 8:26 am
Coleen says:
New to canning. Tried a few things last year. Would love BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 8:32 am
jim says:
BB Book please
On May 26, 2011 at 8:47 am
countrygirl221 says:
BBB please :wave:
On May 26, 2011 at 8:47 am
patricialynn says:
Pickles – that sounds good. I’m addicted to Milwaukee baby dills…so yummy…
BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 8:52 am
dgkritch says:
Passionate Pickle Person here!!
BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 8:55 am
heidiannie says:
I’d love to win the BBB. I found you can’t go out of town and keep up with a garden- unless you have dedicated pickers. My family are all dedicated pickers (and eaters!)
On May 26, 2011 at 9:02 am
momtoadiva says:
I LOVE little bitty pickles!!! BBB please 🙂
On May 26, 2011 at 9:09 am
ashmmorgan2 says:
I’m not a fan of sweet gherkins but they are my husband’s fav! He’ll be excited to try out this recipe, thanks! BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 9:15 am
ladybird_1959 says:
My dream for my garden this year is just to have dry weather to get it planted. I work outside the home and haven’t had good weekends for planting. We were also out of town for a week on vacation, so that didn’t help, either. Ok, I’ll stop whining now and just ask for the BBB, please!!!
On May 26, 2011 at 9:19 am
azladychef says:
BBB. Pickles could be fun…..
Thanks Suzanne and CB!
On May 26, 2011 at 9:20 am
Luann says:
BBB PLEASE!
On May 26, 2011 at 10:00 am
sparkles2307 says:
BBB please! I’m growing 5 different kinds of cukes this year in search of the perfect pickle
On May 26, 2011 at 10:07 am
Zusiqu says:
BBB please?
On May 26, 2011 at 10:14 am
Ms.Becky says:
I too love little bitty cukes for pickling. and I like bush cuke plants too, because I don’t have the space for the vines. pickling is my favorite canning activity. thanks to CB in TN for sponsoring the Blue Book giveaway! BBB!
On May 26, 2011 at 10:30 am
cabynfevr says:
I would love a BBB but cucumbers/pickles won’t be on my list of to do’s! I’ve never liked them 🙁
On May 26, 2011 at 10:40 am
5kathleen2 says:
Would love BBB!
On May 26, 2011 at 10:45 am
dustymom says:
BBB please – still trying to find a recipe for real dill pickle relish – we like the bread and butter pickles, but really, really use a LOT of dill relish!
On May 26, 2011 at 10:50 am
mamajoseph says:
Want to win BBB!
On May 26, 2011 at 10:56 am
farmerlady2 says:
BBB please. Thanks!
On May 26, 2011 at 10:57 am
Ramona Slocum says:
BBB PLEASE! Aren’t the little cucs cute??? I wash mine in the washing machine. Does a good job and shortens the washing time.
MN Mona
On May 26, 2011 at 10:57 am
whaledancer says:
Suzanne, do you grow a special “little bitty” variety, or are they just ordinary pickling cukes picked young?
@Ramona: Do you use the spin cycle?
On May 26, 2011 at 11:12 am
Dan12 says:
BBB PLEASE! I WOULD LOVE TO TRY MAKING PICKLES!
On May 26, 2011 at 11:28 am
cindyinohio says:
I would love to win the BBB. Thanks!
On May 26, 2011 at 11:43 am
CrystalGB says:
I have never made pickles. Would love to have the BBB.
On May 26, 2011 at 11:47 am
oddgirl says:
BBB please, please, please. We’re putting in our first garden this year with lots of tomatoes. I need to know how to can those darn things! LOL.
On May 26, 2011 at 12:10 pm
jkubemt1 says:
Still trying to get my pickles to stay crisp. Hope to try again this year. BBB please
On May 26, 2011 at 12:14 pm
tami says:
I am trying to grow cucumbers. If I had BBB I could make pickles!!!! BBB please.
On May 26, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Nobarnfarm says:
Would love the BBB! Somehow I have planted 16 tomato plants and my daughter is threatening to flood the garden w/dozens of cuke plants leftover from her FFA sale!
On May 26, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Rosemeri says:
I love sweet gherkins too. Please BBB
On May 26, 2011 at 12:28 pm
JerseyMom says:
I made refrigerator garlic dills last year and they were yummy but have a kind of short shelf life. I’d like to try canning some this summer. BBB please!
On May 26, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Nadeanne says:
BBB Please!
On May 26, 2011 at 12:42 pm
sourmilknightmares says:
Garlic pickles are where it’s at! BBB, please!
On May 26, 2011 at 1:11 pm
melonhead says:
I’d like the BBB, please and thanks.
On May 26, 2011 at 1:30 pm
morningstar says:
Oooh Hubby’s favourite so BBB please.
On May 26, 2011 at 1:32 pm
jecook says:
I love canning, BBB me please
On May 26, 2011 at 1:33 pm
langela says:
BBB, please!
On May 26, 2011 at 1:46 pm
cotswolds93 says:
Please pick ME for the BBB!!!
On May 26, 2011 at 1:55 pm
DebbieInMemphis says:
I’m hoping for tons of cukes and tomatoes 🙂 BBB, please
On May 26, 2011 at 1:56 pm
AmandaLeighB says:
Yummy little pickles! I’d like the BBB, please.
On May 26, 2011 at 1:58 pm
Vicki in So. CA says:
I planted twice the cukes as last year. Pickles are in my plans. BBB please.
On May 26, 2011 at 2:04 pm
mrsdmahogany says:
Oh yes please! BBB all the way….. :shimmy:
Dianna
On May 26, 2011 at 2:10 pm
lavenderblue says:
Dill pickle fans here! How many global buckets full of cucumber plants do you think I’d need to get enough to can pickles? I’d probably have to take over the neighbor’s yard as well as mine in order to grow enough. BBB, please.
On May 26, 2011 at 3:16 pm
Almost Heaven, WV says:
Bread and Butter pickles are my favorite! BBB please! :snoopy:
On May 26, 2011 at 3:16 pm
kj says:
I love pickles but can”t grow them for my life. They end up looking like a yellow softball. But I do can hot cherry peppers with celery, carrot and cauliflower. The hotness get into all the veggies. Would love to get the BBB!
On May 26, 2011 at 4:07 pm
jeepdriver says:
Ohhh…please sign me up for the canning book. I need help and raspberry time is almost here. I want jam this year!
On May 26, 2011 at 4:09 pm
kristen says:
Oh, BBB please to go along with my cucumber plants popping up.
Thanks so much for a chance.
Happy BBB day!
On May 26, 2011 at 4:45 pm
farmershae says:
I’d love the BBB and some little bitty’s!
Thank you to CB!
On May 26, 2011 at 4:55 pm
Sarah G says:
BBB please! I’m excited about pickling this summer: asparagus (done), beets, cucumbers, and whatever else I can get my hands on.
On May 26, 2011 at 6:06 pm
marymac says:
I’m trying a new seed this year for cucumbers which you can use while they are small for pickles or if you let them get big they are still good for slicers, but the best part is they are supposed to be disease resistant to many diseases , hope they live up to their reputation. Please put me in for the BBB.
On May 26, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Lana says:
I am a major dill pickle addict…over the years I got my recipe just right and made my own that were, for me, perfect. I moved to the big city, lost the recipe, and haven’t done any canning for several years. BUT, I am ready to start again, so I need a BBB, please! Thank you for this website – love it!
On May 26, 2011 at 7:07 pm
GaPeach says:
BBB, please! Thanks!
On May 26, 2011 at 7:34 pm
Ann says:
BBB! Thank you!
On May 26, 2011 at 7:51 pm
pdelainey says:
I love making baby dill pickles.
BBB please.
:clover:
On May 26, 2011 at 8:21 pm
hounddoggy says:
BBB please. My mom used to can…but I haven’t yet. I think this year is the year.
On May 26, 2011 at 8:46 pm
threadartist says:
Suzanne, did your cucumbers stay crisp? I love pickles and tried making these last year (used a different recipe however), and I was very disappointed. They weren’t crunchy enough for me and they came out too salty. I would like to try again with your recipe but thought I would check with you. I worry about wasting cucumbers. I had to throw out last year’s batch.
On May 26, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
threadartist, this is a recipe I want to use, not one I’ve tried yet! It comes from the BBB.
On May 26, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Willamette Valley Girl says:
What cute little cukes!! BBB please! I’m a pickle-lovin’ girl!
On May 26, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Bonnie S. says:
BBB, please.
On May 26, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
UPDATE 05/27/11: The winning comment number, drawn by random.org, is comment #30, Zusiqu.
THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED TO ENTRY.
On May 27, 2011 at 11:31 am
Journey11 says:
Gerkins are my favorite too! Given all the work of brining them, I’ve found it sensible to just go ahead and plant a bunch of vines so I can harvest them all over a couple days and get on with it. Seems to me I saw a cuke variety in a seed catalog that is supposed to stay relatively small, but I can’t remember the name of it…
On May 27, 2011 at 1:59 pm