For many years, I’ve been the person in the Christmas gift giving group who is known for homemade items. This started when I was a child and my mom was an amazing pickler and preserver with all of the wonderful fruits and vegetables we grew in our garden. I really started getting into this when I lived in Maryland and had a garden plot in the park. I had so very many vegetables coming from that 16×20 foot plot there was no other option than to make pickles.

Pickles, now everyone immediately thinks of the cucumber version, but pickling is really just a process, with vinegar and sugar, of preserving vegetables (and some fruits) in jars. That year, I pickled cherry tomatoes, beets, carrots, tomatoes (piccalilli), corn, watermelon rinds and garlic.

Other than pickling, I have a history of making jams, mustards, flavored butter, flavored vodka, and hand scrubs, among others. This year, I’m making a mix of items:

• Jam – blueberry and mixed berry
• Jelly – lemon
• Pickles – garlic with herbs (still in process)
• Vinegar – italian seasoned white wine vinegar (still in process)

What would you make, given the chance? Do you want recipes? Let me know and I’ll post.

Happy making and giving!