Pickle Patch Paradise: How One Celebrity’s Pandemic Hobby Became a Delicious Obsession
As I sat in my own garden, surrounded by the fruits of my labor, I couldn’t help but think of Melissa Gilbert, the beloved actress from Little House on the Prairie. While I was struggling to keep my tomato plants alive, Gilbert was thriving in her Catskill cabin, cultivating a bounty of fresh produce and turning it into delicious pickles.
A peaceful retreat in the Catskills
Gilbert’s journey into the world of pickling began as a way to pass the time during the Covid-19 pandemic. With her husband, Timothy Busfield, she turned to gardening as a way to cope with the isolation. The result was a harvest of fresh cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs. But it was her pickles that stole the show.
The Sour Truth
Gilbert’s sour pickles were a game-changer. She created a brine with water, salt, garlic, chili peppers, and dill, bringing it to a boil before pouring it over sliced cucumbers in jars. The waiting game began, as the jars sat in the pantry, fermenting for at least three days. The result was a tangy, crunchy delight that impressed even the most discerning palates.
The perfect snack for a pandemic
But Gilbert didn’t stop there. She also experimented with bread and butter pickles, using thinly sliced onions, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, brown and white sugar, mustard, and celery seeds. The result was a sweet and tangy pickle that added a new dimension to the classic recipe.
A sweet and tangy twist on a classic
The Pickle Patch Paradise
As I sat in my own garden, surrounded by the fruits of my labor, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of envy towards Gilbert’s pickle patch paradise. Who wouldn’t want to spend their days tending to a lush garden, surrounded by the beauty of nature, and enjoying the fruits of their labor?
A garden paradise
Gilbert’s story is a testament to the power of gardening and pickling as a way to cope with stress and find joy in the simple things. As I looked out at my own garden, I knew that I had to try my hand at pickling. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll be the one sharing my own pickle patch paradise with the world.
“The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.” - Abraham Lincoln
