Favorite Storage Containers

Do you have trouble finding the right storage containers that 'fit' your kitchen? My pantries have tall, deep shelving, making it hard to fit storage containers in them just right. After looking around for a couple of years, I've settled on several different styles of storage.

My favorite are these 1/2 gallon freezer jars. They are perfect for storing beans and rice, and they look good on open shelves. I always freeze my dry beans for two weeks after purchasing, and so far I haven't had any trouble with bugs hatching out in them.

These jars, a throw-back to the old cracker jars, look really nice on the shelf. My main problem with them is the threading on the lids. It is hard to get the lid back on once you take it off. I have an old jar, an original, and this newer one here that I keep my oatmeal in. If the threading was better, I'd have lots of these jars!

For behind pantry doors, I like these cereal storage containers. They are inexpensive and you can easily get a couple of boxes of crackers in them, or several bags of brown or powdered sugar, and of course they are perfect for cereal.

I'd love to hear any of your ideas on kitchen storage. I'm constantly trying to find ways to organize this small room!

Meet the Pups and Writing Wednesday

I'd like you to meet Holly (L) and Grady (above)~two new members of the cabin household. They are rat terrier mixed with ??? and are the cutest little things! They are nine weeks old. We adopted them from the Humane Shelter last Friday. They are real sweeties! At least we think so. The rest of the animals around here are still adjusting, LOL!

Writing Wednesday: Some of you may remember that near the end of April, I was busy editing a Christmas novella I had written. I heard back from White Rose Publishing and they have accepted my manuscript! I'm very excited about this and am looking forward to being part of the White Rose family!

Summer Pickles

These summertime refrigerator dills are our very favorite. I finally have enough cucumbers for a gallon! The over 100 degree temperatures every day are starting to take a toll on our plants. We are expecting very hot weather for the next two weeks, so this may be the only batch we get. In case any of you have extra cucumbers, I thought you might like the recipe:

Summer Dills

2 cups white vinegar

6 cups of water

1/3 cup of canning/pickling salt

1 gallon of cucumbers (pickling are best, but any will work--just cut in smaller pieces)

2 tablespoons dill seed

2 tablespoons pickling spices

3 cloves garlic

Bay leaf or grape leaf

Combine vinegar, water, and salt. Bring to boil, then set aside to cool.

Put dill, garlic, pickling spices, & bay leaf or grape leaf in bottom of gallon jar. Fill jar with cucumbers, cut in halves or quarters if they are large.

When vinegar solution has cooled, pour over cucmbers and put in the refrigerator.

After 3 days, the cucumbers and brine can be divided into smaller jars. Pickles are ready to eat in about 2 weeks. Will keep approximately 4 months in the refrigerator.

Enjoy:)

I'm so thankful for our country, founding fathers and everyone that has sacrificed through the years to give us this life! Happy Birthday, America!!!

Holiday Weekend

Wishing everyone a wonderful Independence Day weekend!!!