I have a furry kitchen helper… If you read my blog regularly, you’ve met her before. Her name is Yellowdog, and she’s a yellow lab (real creative, right?). But, she’s not your regular yellow lab… She loves veggies.
I grew up in a family that always had dogs – big dogs. Over the years, I have never seen a dog that loves to eat vegetables as much as Yellowdog does. She begs for them. I’m not just talking about baby carrots, either. She begs for snap peas, bell peppers, squash, and cucumbers. She especially loves cucumbers.
A few years ago I planted some cucumber plants in the garden in our backyard and I wasn’t smart enough to put up a fence. The other backyard pests (we have an ongoing groundhog problem) never even had a chance to nibble on the cucumbers. As soon as Yellowdog spotted one, she firmly grabbed it in her mouth and played tug-of-war with the cucumber plant. The plant lost. After some growling and barking at the plant (I think she was trying to intimidate it… goofy dog!), Yellowdog finally freed the cucumber. She also pulled the whole plant out of the ground, roots and all. This continued until all of the plants had been destroyed. There is now a fence around my garden.
So, as you might imagine, my furry sous chef is always close by when I decide to make pickles. It only takes her a few seconds to realize that I have a pile of cucumbers sitting on the countertop. (She actually comes running at the sound of the cutting board and my chef knife… I’m telling you, the crazy dog loves her veggies). Whether I’m chopping cucumbers for relish or thinly slicing cucumbers for my favorite bread and butter pickles, I have two sad brown eyes gazing longling at the cutting board, pleading for a cucumber. Those eyes are hard to resist.
I usually cut off the end of the cucumber and give her a piece or two to go munch on. She scampers off and crunches loudly on the crisp cucumber. She also likes to spit out the seeds all over the carpet. I forgot to mention that she’s a messy eater.
For me, canning is a process… And, having Yellowdog scampering around in the kitchen is part of the process. A lot of people hate dealing with the steamy boiling water, but in some ways, I enjoy it. I think I appreciate all of the homemade canned goods – pickles, relishes, jams, jellies, and butters – so much more after spending an afternoon in the kitchen with Yellowdog.
Bread and Butter Pickle Relish
(Yields 7 half pints; adapted from Better Homes and Gardens)
- 6 cups diced cucumber
- 3 cups diced bell pepper (red and green)
- 3 cups diced onion
- 4 cups ice
- 8 cups cold water
- 1/4 cup Kosher salt
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
- 2 1/2 teaspoons mustard seed
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
Combine the cucumber, bell pepper, onion, ice, water, and Kosher salt in a large mixing bowl. Cover and let stand for 2 hours. Transfer the mixture to a large colander. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Meanwhile, prepare a boiling water canner and sterilize 7 half pint jars, lids, and bands.
In a large heavy bottomed pot, combine the sugar, vinegar, celery seed, mustard seed, and turmeric. Bring to a boil. Add the drained vegetable mixture and return to a boil. Continue to boil the mixture for 10 minutes.
Carefully fill the sterilized jars with the hot relish, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Wipe the rim of each jar, and carefully fit with a lid and secure the band. Process the jars in boiling water for 10 minutes.
First time canning? Be sure to check out these guidelines for boiling water canning! I have done my best to ensure that this recipe is safe for canning, and I used a reputable source. However, it is always important to double check the guidelines to make sure a recipe is safe for canning.
This is so lovely Jen. I’ve got a yellow lab, too…they’re just the sweetest :)
ps this relish looks seriously tasty- I’ve never canned relish but you’re inspiring me!
I love relish AND labs! I’ve had 3 labs, but none ever ate veggies (one did eat half of his doghouse and the neighbors steps, though) :-)
Nice looking recipe. btw, the cookies you made for bsp2 were awesome!
Another big dog fan here! I grew up with a St. Bernard who ate socks when he was excited, and several Old English Sheepdogs. I keep telling my kids that we’ll get a dog next year when my youngest is in preschool, but I’m not sure if I can hold out until then.
Bread and Butter Pickles are one of my favorite pickles to make. I saved your relish recipe to try next year since I’m done with the pickles this year. I’m a bit busy with tomatoes.
It doesn’t surprise me that a cook as talented and as health conscious as you owns a dog that loves his veggies! Your pickles look fantastic and I love all the photos of Yellowdog. He’s a beauty with the most adorable face!
My dog is a Cocker Spaniel but they are related. She will eat anything even to the point of me having to scurry faster than her if I drop a hot pepper piece on the floor; I just have a feeling that she might not enjoy raw jalapeno.
Your cucumbers, my tomatoes…blamed everything possible til I caught her removing them from the plant. Not green ones mind you…nope, she liked them ripe!
So glad to see Yellowdog look so good and romping with you…in the kitchen and out!
I’ve never seen a dog love cucumbers so much, haha! I love Yellowdog. :-) I love the relish too…I’m making zucchini relish today since yours looked so good!!
I love the posts with Yellowdog!
Relish like nana used to make PLUS Yellowdog? Great post Jen! I need to get making these – gorgeous!
I have 3 Labs- mom- yellow (Missy), daughter- white (Echo), and adopted black (Skeeter). Missy is allergic to just about everything that dog food is made of. That being said, she’ll eat anything that we give her (or turn our backs on…). Tomatoes aren’t on the list of ‘forbidden’ food, and are her favorite. We had to put a fence around the garden to keep her out. It was rather entertaining to watch her sniff at the plants to see if any were ripe enough to eat. I came home from work one day and found the green half of a half ripe tomato on the garage floor.
I’m glad I followed the link to this site looking for a relish recipe. Now I know I’m not the only Lab/relish lover around!
The lab thing is cute but has anybody tried the relish ?
Yes…me! That makes 3 batches I’ve made so far. Delicious. Not your “run of the mill” sweet pickle relish from the supermarket. Plus, I’m in France and can’t even buy it here if you wanted to. Mix it with a little strong dijon mustard and you have a gourment hot dog relish!
I love the dog too.
My husband says its the best he has ever had. He said we won’t be getting sweet relish at the store anymore. He said this recipe is a side dish not a condiment lol. We are trying to get more back to the old way of doing things. I have so far canned 260+ canned food items this year and am still canning. Love to share with family and friends. This is my largest canning so far. If I could just get them to return the jars. Have a beautiful day all.
THIS IS THE BEST RECIPE FOR BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLE RELISH I’VE TASTED IN MY 61 YEARS!!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK. MY DACHSHUND ” BUBBA ” LOVES VEGGIES TOO!!!