Back in the day, there was said to be a doll that talked. It was nothing special, you pulled a string in her back and she repeated a few phrases. The doll said, (among other things,)* "Math is gross," or something equally demeaning to girls regarding math.
It was believed to reinforce the myth that math is NOT for girls. We know this is false but.... but.... but....
This morning I feel like that damned doll as I calculate the proportions of
pickle brine needed for a yield of two-half-gallon and two-quart jars of pickles from the original yield of three pints (or did I write the recipe for quarts jars?).
Oy. Math is icky.
So, if I need six cups water, two cups vinegar and one-third cups salt for three quarts (yes quarts)....
I need 15 cups water, five cups vinegar and (roughly) three-fourths cup salt to brine two half-gallon and two quarts (actually six quarts) of pickles.
All this before 9 am.
All this to use the remaining five pounds of picking cukes I picked up through work to feed the Fermentation Vessel (that still awaits a name).
I've processed 25 pounds of pickling cucumbers in two days While Working A Full-Time Job. Hear ME roar.
The work of this morning is not just for bragging rights. These are the dill pickles I'll submit to the State Fair. It's my adaptation of a recipe originally posted on AllRecipes.com by Sharon Howard. Here' my my blog post about the recipe.
It's 11 am and all the jars have popped (jars that have sealed properly will 'pop' as the metal lid is sucked down in the created vacuum).
I'm quite happy with this morning's output. One-and-a-half gallons of pickles and no broken jars. Yes, a good day.
In about two weeks I'll have pickles. Glorious pickles.
* The doll also said, "I like boys." Just sayin'...
