The Great Alone | Quick Pickles
The strength of women when they show up for each other. That is what impacted me most when reading The Great Alone.
Alaska is a foreboding place. Made even more treacherous when the one place you should feel safe is the scariest of all. Leni and her mom must learn to survive in the wilds of Alaska while navigating her increasingly fanatical father and his violent mood swings.
They learn to be tough, independent, and innovative. Doing what is necessary to survive.
I found Kristen Hannah’s book to be incredibly moving. The strength of women to endure, to protect, and to thrive amidst life’s gruelling hardships. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Through their journey they work hard all summer to preserve food for the long, harsh winter. Although we may not need to put away food to avoid starvation, another great reason to preserve food is to prevent waste. If you have some veggies going limp in the fridge, why not turn them into pickles? It’s as easy as packing them into jars with a quick brine of water, vinegar, and salt. And they should last for two months in the fridge.
Have you read The Great Alone? What would you rate it?
Quick Pickles
Quick pickles are easy to make and help prevent food waste. Simply pack whatever veggies you like into a jar and cover with brine. For extra flavour add herbs and spices such as garlic, dill, mustard seeds, and peppercorns.
Directions
Slice or chop veggies to desired size. Put any desired seasoning into the jar, then pack in veggies.
Bring to boil as much brine as you need and stir until salt has dissolved. Pour over veggies to cover. It is ok if the veggies float above the brine at first. As they cool, they will sink. Let cool to room temperature, then cover and store in the fridge. They should stay good for up to 2 months in the fridge.
Brine ratio
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Decrease or increase these amounts depending on how much you need. This amount should be enough for 2 pint jars or 4 half pint jars. If you like a touch of sweetness to your pickles, feel free to add a few teaspoons of sugar to the brine.
Flavourings
Play around with these as you like but as a starting point you could use (per pint jar):
1 teaspoon whole dried spices (such as mustard seeds)
A few sprigs of fresh herbs (such as dill)
1-2 garlic cloves
Hi I’m Cheri, I’ve been staying up too late reading since I was a kid hiding under the covers with a flashlight.