whats been cooking and not cooking

Two weeks ago I went on a cooking binge.  I made up some pickles, my first batch ever.  I couldn’t find pickling (kirby) pickles so I just used the english seedless kind from the grocery store.  I also found it difficult to locate dill seed in Peoria grocery stores.  I really love these pickles.  They are very tart and vinegary, which I normally wouldn’t like or love.  But these are nice b/c I have to nibble them, which makes them a lovely treat.  Next time I’ll make them with more garlic and maybe some more spice.  I also pickled green beans.  Number 12 on my 31 list is to make pickles and pickle something other than a cucumber.  So I pickled some green beans following Food in Jar’s recipe.  They need to sit for two weeks while the flavors cure so I haven’t tried these yet.  I’m kinda excited to.  I’ve read that you can put them on hotdogs instead of real pickles to make yourself feel fancy.  I was also thinking they might be good in a salad with some blue cheese. 

I was on a major roll this day.  I made green tomato chutney.  I’d had tomato chutney at a restaurant on a burger and thought it was amazing.  Sweet and tomatoy and chunky and lovely.  I had a ton of green tomatoes so I picked them and whipped up this chutney also from Food in Jars.  It’s super yummy.  Sweet with a bit of heat from the red pepper flakes.  So far I’ve enjoyed this on turkey sandwiches, but I plan to slather it on some pork chops and on my burger the next time I make them. 
Finally the small brown bottles are home made vanilla extract.  I’m hoping to use some of these as Christmas gifts this year.  It was super easy to make and kinda fun.  I’ve used it in several things and have had great results.

So that’s whats cooking in my kitchen.  Not much has been cooking with photography.  But we’ve been super busy being responsible this month.  Meeting with the banks, and insurance companies to set up accounts and funds and what not.  Pretty soon I hope to be able to say that I’ve completed number 8 on my 31 list.  I do have a holga project that M and I are going to do together.  I’m also going to spend a night in Chicago again in a couple weeks.  So there are holga opportunities coming up.
I have been quilting a lot!  Got a ton of piecing done on both quilts I’m working on.  Spent last night at the quilt shop taking free mini classes and buying fabric for finishing. 
R is learning to walk.  He’s a speed demon while pushing his toy and the last few weeks he is becoming more and more stable on two feet.  He can walk across the room on occasion.  On other occasions I think he’s learning to run before he learns to walk. 

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