Passion for Pickles

[Waitman]

I think this is a blow for the kind of neo-traditionalist embrace of womanly arts that Hillary will embody tonight.

Who knew she was 42?

props to MeMc, as well.

[sshorter]

Heather will be "Live Online" tomorrow at 1pm at the Washington Post's Free Range chat spot. I think it will be here.

[Heather]

Big, big thanks to Melissa. This is pretty exciting.

Who knew she was 42?

Thanks, doll. You're angling for a free lifetime supply, aren't you?

[zoramargolis]

Congrats, Heather and Melissa. Good job. I do wish your editor had had enough knowledge to pick up on a mistake that was repeated twice: the relish is called pickalilly not pickadilly...

I know. Picky. Picky.

[Heather]

I noticed that too, Zora. My grandmother's recipe spells it pickalilli.

[synaesthesia]

And jalepeno should be jalapeno

[Heather]

Maybe someone could point out all the typos during the live chat tomorrow.

[hillvalley]

They should also add "er" to the end of your name in the info about the chat

[Heather]

Wow, that was fast. There's already two crappy comments on the WaPo website.

One of them I feel I should address here. The article mentions that I cook barefoot, and I do sometimes, but I try to wear my clogs when canning. Bare feet are not advisable around glass jars and vats of hot water.

[monavano]

Just ran out to the driveway and grabbed my copy. Congratulations! Great article and recipes.

[porcupine]

Wow, that was fast. There's already two crappy comments on the WaPo website.

Comments like that reek of petty jealousies from mean-spirited people. Ignore them. Congratulations.

(BTW I had your pickles at BreadSoda recently - they're delicious!)

[Mark Slater]

And jalepeno should be jalapeno

...or jalapeño

[Mark Slater]

Wow, that was fast. There's already two crappy comments on the WaPo website.

Sounds like sour pickles to me.

[Heather]

Thanks, y'all. I just saw the print version. Wow.

[FunnyJohn]

Congrats, Heather and may the world beat a path to your pickles! (BTW anyone ever hear the one about the man who lost his job at the pickle factory when he put his finger in the pickle slicer...)

[DonRocks]

(BTW anyone ever hear the one about the man who lost his job at the pickle factory when he put his finger in the pickle slicer...)

He got fired? Jeez. And what happened to the pickle slicer?

[Al Dente]

Congratulations Heather!

[Pat]

Impressive article. Congratulations.

[monavano]

DC food blogger The Slow Cook has been making pickles from his garden this summer. Lots of different recipes here

Question for Heather-so you don't ever reuse lids? How about bands?

Thanks.

[Heather]

DC food blogger The Slow Cook has been making pickles from his garden this summer. Lots of different recipes here

Question for Heather-so you don't ever reuse lids? How about bands?

Thanks.

Lids, no. Bands, yes.

[monavano]

Lids, no. Bands, yes.

Do you have a source to get just lids?

[Heather]

Do you have a source to get just lids?

I've been able to buy just the lids at Strosniders, and at Food Lion. fillmorecontainers.com has been great for mail order.

[Malawry]

What a great story, Heather! Congratulations.

Monavano, I purchase boxes of just-lids at my local supermarket every year. I do keep a couple of old lids for times when I do non-canned things with Ball jars--I like to make vinaigrettes in them--but I always, always use new ones for any form of food preservation. The lids come in a small box of 10 or 12 and are right near the other canning supplies. You can also buy boxes of lids-and-rings if you need new rings for some reason.

[ScotteeM]

Do you have a source to get just lids?

Fischer's Hardware in Springfield carries canning supplies. I'll bet they have boxes of lids.

[monavano]

Thanks for all the lid suggestions. I keep the lids around for vinaigrettes too. Perfect for shaking and storing.

[Heather]

As my dear sshorter said upthread, I will be participating in the "Free Range" chat at 1pm, should anyone care to submit any hard-hitting pickle questions, or grill me on my hair color or kitchen hygiene. Link here.

[lperry]

Congratulations and best of luck with your business!

[xcanuck]

I thought about posting a smart ass question, but it appears a board member beat me to the punch.

I tried finding the book you mentioned (Ball Blue Book of Preserving) but it appears to be out of print. I'll give The Joy of Pickling a shot. And maybe I should also keep your number on speed dial.

[Heather]

Thanks xcanuck. My favorite unpublished question:

Brokedown Palace, DC: For Ms. Shorter

As a frustrated housewife, do you make your pickles while both barefoot AND pregnant?

Heather Shorter: I think I know who this is...yes to barefoot. When I was pregnant I merely consumed them, preferably with ice cream.

[monavano]

Thanks xcanuck. My favorite unpublished question:

Brokedown Palace, DC: For Ms. Shorter

As a frustrated housewife, do you make your pickles while both barefoot AND pregnant?

Heather Shorter: I think I know who this is...yes to barefoot. When I was pregnant I merely consumed them, preferably with ice cream.

Don't let those wankers with their jealous comments get to you. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE'S BAREFOOT..............IN A KITCHEN.......SOMEONE CALL THE CLOG POLICE!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes when folks don't have anything nice to say, they type. The article was well written, and an interesting local piece.

[Heather]

This was a friend, although I am sure he will deny deny deny.

Dr. Rockwell's erudite question was entertaining too, if you enjoy the Diet of Worms.

[sshorter]

This was a friend, although I am sure he will deny deny deny.

Dr. Rockwell's erudite question was entertaining too, if you enjoy the Diet of Worms.

You were seeing things. "Dr. Don Rockville, MD" might be my chiropractor.

Then again, he might not.

[Pat]

Don't let those wankers with their jealous comments get to you. OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE'S BAREFOOT..............IN A KITCHEN.......SOMEONE CALL THE CLOG POLICE!!!!!!!!!!

I assumed that was a joking reference to the comments on the Post site. Someone who created the name hausfrau something had made a post calling Heather a frustrated housewife.

[monavano]

I assumed that was a joking reference to the comments on the Post site. Someone who created the name hausfrau something had made a post calling Heather a frustrated housewife.

Yes, sorry I should have referenced it.

[blakegwinn]

Has anyone ever in the history of humankind died because they ate pickles that were canned by someone without shoes on? Just curious, I would love to see some statistics on that.

[MC Horoscope]

Congratulations and good luck with your venture!

[V.H.]

Has anyone ever in the history of humankind died because they ate pickles that were canned by someone without shoes on? Just curious, I would love to see some statistics on that.

I make jam and because we are a no outside shoes inside kind of household, I jam barefoot. I have been known to jam while barefoot and pregnant. I have a bushel of peaches waiting to be canned and guess what? I'll probably do that barefoot too. Fortunately for my friends and family, I have the whole opposable thumb thing going and don't actually involve my feet in the canning process.

Congrats on the great article, Heather.

[Heather]

Fortunately for my friends and family, I have the whole opposable thumb thing going and don't actually involve my feet in the canning process.

Awesome.

Thanks for the good wishes, everyone. This was really cool.

[ScotteeM]

Heather,

Congratulations on the great press! Now that I know what you look like, I will say hi next time I see you. (I saw you at Vidalia last week, but didn't know who you were.)

I so very much want to try your recipes, and I, too, cook barefoot, but I will exercise caution with glass and boiling water.

You go, Girl!

[squidsdc]

Congrats on the great feature, and chat! I wasn't able to follow along in real time, but got a kick out of reading it afterwards. I thought about commenting on your hair color...