Day 11

Todays blog is going to be quite boring- the pickles fermentation remain the same (from a non microscopic level).  Im starting to wish i had a microscope so i could experience a true  microbe sighting :)
Three days left until the finial burping session and completion.

Until tomorrow..

day 10

FOUR DAYS left until completion woo hoo!!
Just a few updates today- water is still a gel like consistency, color is still a light green tint to it, and today i have noticed some seeds floating around, this must be from the cucumbers! The garlic chips are turning brown and some of the dill has broken off and some pieces are floating around.
I have also noticed a collection of white things around some of the spices from the pickling spice mix. Is the white things mold?
Just like the last project- you can smell the pickle aroma out side the jar!
So excited they are almost done!

Until tomorrow..

Day 9

Today's blog is going to be kind of  boring, i haven't noticed much change from yesterday. The water is slightly discolored, and the white floating things are enlarged but that's how it was yesterday. I cant wait to try these :)

Day 8

Well today is the count down until completetion of the project and then finially we will be able to taste them! :) 6 DAYS AND COUNTING !!

Todays update on the pickles i feel there is definitly an increase in white stuff floating around, and in general- more "stuff" floating around in the jar, still the same color just more stuff.

BTW as i mentioned in my first blog of the revision- i have been keeping these pickles in a cool place, in a light-tight box :)

until tomorrow.....

Burping video from Day 7

Yesterday i had some technical difficulites with my burping video..
And i promised the video today- but it just isnt working- ive tried it on 2 different computers? Something must of went wrong when i was recording it..
Well it was just a video of me opening the jar and you could kind of hear the "POP" sound from the pressure built up. Pretty cool i must say!

Day 6 and Day 7

Day 6- i took a look at the pickles the morning of day 6, there was no change from day 5. I gave the pickles a good shake to get rid of white film layer at the bottom- i suppose this is just settling.
 ( i apologize i wasn't able to post- it was a long day and i was just exhausted)

Day 7- (today) is burping day. only one week left until its complete! The pickles have a very "gel" like consistency, with definitely more "white" specks.
   - I popped open the jar to give it a burp, it was overwhelmed with a pickle aroma  I don't even like pickles and my mouth started watering. They definitely have a vinegar smell but i suppose its just the fermentation process.

So i have taken a couple pictures as well as videos.
One of the videos is the burping session- and no i didnt put it over my shoulder ;)
Enjoy

*****At the moment im am having some technical difficulties with my burping videos- for some reason they dont want to load on my computer- i will try adding them from the school computer tomorrow, and another update on the pickle project:)
Goodnight!

Day 5

Here we are again.. this is a late post due to a LONG and full workload day.
As i mentioned in my last post- i noticed a white film on the side and put the jar upright. As i suspected the film developed on the bottom. I have taken a picture of it.Other than that there really hasn't been much change to the color, consistency.

Here is the picture

day 4

so here i am.. countdown begins until the first burping session (3 more days). Pickles look just about the same with an exception of this white "tinge" to the side of the jar- im thinking that it might be from laying on the side.. i have stood it up right and maybe now it will be the white tinge on the bottom of the jar- which i did notice on the last project- there being a white color to the glass jar inside. hmm - not really sure what it is.
Also, the mason jar is tightly sealed and i put my nose up to it and can smell the pickle smell leaking out from it again. As i posted in my last project- it def smells like vinegar, or just that "pickle smell." Vinegar WAS NOT used in the making. So its just the fermentation thats making that smell..pretty cool i must say.

See ya tomorrow bloggers.

Day 3 pickles pickles pickles !

So, as I've promised- i will blog everyday until the end result- so here I am!

Today was a very crazy day for me i left from Bennington at 6:30a and drove to Burlington ( 3hr drive), rushed to submit a paper, then rushed to shower  and get ready for  work at 10:30a. So i accidentally left my pickles in my car dung work ( about 10:30-6) so i took a look at them when i got home, and i definitely notice a little more change than from yesterday- i don't know if the cold might have sped up the process or slowed it down making things look larger- but the white little tiny things  i noticed yesterday are in fact LARGER.

I have posted a video of my larger possibly microbe siting today- lets hope this doesn't affect the taste of my pickles - or lets hope it does so i will know what NOT to do next time LOL. Here is the video-

Day 2 revised pickle project

I am blogging for yesterday and today. Unfortunately yesterday i had a family emergency, and could no post a blog. Today, when i was about to blog, my house lost power, this is why i am blogging so late.
SO- the pickles seem to be going a little faster this time around- last time i didnt notice any bubbles until like the 5th or so day.
I am seeing bubbles, slightly discolored water and little itty bitty tiny little white "gel" like things that move with the water. I believe maybe this is a mircobe siting! How cool!

Will check in tomorrow with an update, if any on the pickle project..

REVISED PROJECT 2 RECIPE AND PICTURES

Here is step by step- the 2nd pickle project:
You can see my revisions- but i will point them out as we scroll down-



First- Washed the mason jar- i used only one jar this time ( less pickles- less money)
 cut up 2- 4 inch cucumbers into chips
 chopped up dill about 2 tablespoons worth




Next the bay leaves- those are placed as is in the jar.



Chopped up two medium size garlic- this time i chopped them up, last time i cut in half.



last time i used 1 1/2 teaspoon of pickling spice- this time i used less- about 1teaspoon



Fill the mason jar with the spice and bay leaves



Garlic and dill chopped



Place dill, garlic into jar mixture



This picture shows the contents mixed up- i put the cover on and gave it a good shake



After all ingredients are placed- place the cucumbers- this time they are chips.



Top angle of the pickles- you can see about an inch was left at the top for some room to get the contents to be shaken  around



I used fine sea salt- same as i used last time





I boiled just enough water and salt brine mixture as i needed to fill one mason jar- no need to make extra



Pour salt water brine mixture in with the cucumbers and contents. Give it a good couple of shakes- just be sure to use a rag- it is HOT.

Here is a video of the start of project #2


Since it is my goal to blog everyday for the next two weeks i will see you tomorrow blogger.

Id like to share one more video before i post pictures of the revised project..
My sisters boyfriend, who is a VERY picky eater...LOVES my pickles. He has had a total of 5 pickles just tonight. Im sure the jar will be gone tomorrow

Here's a video of him eating his 5th pickle :)

HERE is the completion of pickle #1 project

enjoy :)

#! Pickle fermentation complete

I am enclosing a video of the completion of pickle fermentation #1 in the next post

The video shows- my sister and my dad trying my fermentation. My sister says it taste like cinnamon, and there wasnt any in the ingrediants.. My dads opinion is different- he thinks that they taste like basil and bay leaves.. but taste good!

After this post- i am revising the fermentation just a tad- i am only making one jar worth,less pickling spice( i figure thats the "cinnamon" taste), and instead of spears- chips this time.
I will bring the speared pickle project ( currently in the frig) as well as the chips to the last day of class( in two weeks will be completion-perfect timing!)

I also this time- am going to keep the mason jar in a light tight box.

Some of my goals for this up coming 2 weeks- try and keep up with the blogging.. i feel like its easy to say your going to keep up with it, but its rather pretty hard with everything else going on- so i envy those who can blog everyday!

Here is the completion video of fermenting project #1 - in next post

Update- jars burped

This is the day i burped the jars. You can see the water is slightly bubbly, filled with a white gel like substance, and a slight yellow tint. The jars smelt like vinegar and vinegar was not included in the ingredients!

Day 1: No changes in color

Day 2: No changes

Day 7: burped the jars- color has changed from clear to yellowish tint with bubbles- looks like there is less water?

Day 1: Start cucumber fermentation

Here are a few pictures of my recipe and the start to the fermenting project!

I used 2 pint sized mason jars

(4) 4-5inch pickling cucumbers

Speared the cucumbers- a little revision from the original receipe

Add dill, pickling spice then cucumbers

Chopped dill

2 1/2 tablespoons of pickling spice divided between each mason jar

Add bay leaves after adding cucumbers

"Stuff" 2 cloves of garlic per mason jar

6 tablespoons of sea salt for the salt brine

1 quart of filtered water

Heat up 6 tablespoons of of sea salt to make saltwater brine


POUR BRINE INTO PINTS, LEAVING 1 INCH HEAD
COVER IMMEDIATELY and......

SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE........

                                             FINISHED PRODUCT:

Storing in cool dark place for 2 weeks, excluding burp time ( every 7 days)

Updates to come!

Recipe

Ingredients:

• 24 (or so) small 4"-5" pickling cucumbers
• 6 cloves garlic, ends removed and smashed
• 6 bay leaves
• 2 1/2 tbls pickling spice(cloves, coriander, allspice, pepper, mustard seeds)
• Fresh Dill
• 6 tbls large granule sea salt (kosher salt)

Method:

1. Properly clean 3 quart sized mason jars.
2. Gently clean and remove flower ends from cucumbers.
3. To each quart sized mason jar, stack the bottom with as many cucumbers as you can fit.
4. Divide the pickling spice between the jars.
5. To each jar, add 2 garlic cloves, and 2 bay leaves.
6. Add a good amount of dill to each jar, then fill each jar with as many more cucumbers as you can fit. Do not allow the cucumbers to go up into the band area. Make sure there's 1" headspace between the top of the jar and the lid.
7. On the stovetop, heat 1 quart of filtered water with 6 tbls of salt until it dissolves. Once the salt dissolves into the water, remove from heat. Add 1 1/3 cups of the salt solution brine to each jar.
8. Fill the remainder of the jars with enough filtered water to cover all the ingredients.
9. Place a lid on each jar and give it a good shake to mix the water and salt brine solution. Make sure to check after shaking that all the ingredients are submerged.
10. Place the jar in a cool dark place for 2 weeks making sure to burp the jar after 7 days.

- See more at: http://www.myhumblekitchen.com/2013/07/a-simple-recipe-for-homemade-natural-fermented-pickles/#sthash.aLfbWyR5.dpuf

Fermenting Cucumbers

I chose to ferment pickles because my fiance really loves pickles, and I know if i am successful at this he will love me forever! Just kidding, but really my grandmother used to ferment her own pickles and I've always been interested. What a cool project!