Easy Cucumber Kimchi Recipe

 My Aunt Deb brought some of this along to our last scrapbook camp and I just had to get the recipe from her. I thought all Kimchi had to be spicy, but apparently not. I've been waiting all summer for the Armenian snake cucumbers to come on and they are finally starting to produce. Yay! You can easily adjust this recipe to your tastes.

Easy Cucumber Kimchi Recipe

1 cucumber

1 Tbl Kosher or Celtic Sea Salt

1-2 tsp minced garlic

1-2 tsp finely chopped ginger or 1/4 tsp ground ginger

1/8- 1 tsp dried red pepper flakes

1 tsp sesame seeds (don't use black sesame seeds like I did, it discolors the cukes by the next day)

1 tsp fish sauce or raw whey

1 - 3 green onion, sliced

1.) Cut cucumber (peeled unless using Armenian cucumber - they have very tender skin) into spears about 3 inches long and 8 pieces. 

2.) Sprinkle with salt, then mix a bit so every cucumber has salt on it, and leave for 30 min. Drain in colander but DON'T rinse.

3.) Mix all ingedients well, and store in jars or airtight glass container for at least 30 mins. Can serve fresh or let sit out up to 2 days to ferment. Store up to 1 week. Personally, I like to eat it chilled. Very refreshing!

Enjoy, Jackie

Happy 7th Birthday to Hailey!

We had the privilege of celebrating Hailey's 7th birthday a few weeks ago. She couldn't decide between princesses or fairies when we were trying to come up with a theme for her swimming party at the Riverfront Park in Arlington, OR. She ended up choosing both and was perfectly happy with her decision. Here she is with two of her cousins, Rosie and Lily.

It was HOT that day and the cake was literally melting so we didn't get to enjoy looking at it for long. Hailey really wanted this cake which was more expensive than the others we were looking at, so I told her it would be her big gift from us. She was so thrilled with it!

Our triplet from way back (technically KerriPaula is our cousin). She and a couple of her girls joined us last minute. It was great to see her and catch up a bit!

Hailey and Jessica - cousins having fun playing in the water together.

Look at all those cousins! My SIL, April, brought her two kiddos, too. It was really fun

Family friend, Gracia, got Hailey an awesome hand-made rubber band pistol in which to get back at her brother. I think she's in training for the next modest 007 movie babe.

Grandma Kay and Grandpa Ernie obliged Hailey by buying her some boy-type Legos so that she and Josiah could play together. She was very happy as you can see.

Hot, fun, exhausting day but I hope Hailey will always remember her 7th birthday. As the kids are getting older, their birthday parties are getting more simple, since I'm getting older, too, and running out of energy, LOL. It is all OK though. The most important thing is that I know my kids are aware that they are loved and are special and unique in the eyes of our Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

God Bless,

Jackie

Beach Bums - Nehalem Bay State Park

We were able to take our newly remodeled retro/vintage camper and go to the coast with my dad's side of the family a few weeks ago. We went to Nehalem Bay where we camped and played for three days. Josiah got the clammin' bug and he and his cousin, Jess, spent quite a bit of time looking for clams. Didn't find anything. Kept him busy though! He forgot his coat so used this life jacket to keep himself warm and padded while riding his bike and playing on the beach. He didn't seem to care that he looked weird, just knew he was comfortable and protected and I guess that was all that mattered ;)

My BIL, Steve, and two of his kids, Marcus and Jessica, took the cold water challenge to raise money for charity. The water at the Oregon Coast definitely qualifies! I don't think I could have done this. So proud of them though. It was fun to watch them all go in together.

Josiah and two of his cousins, Jacob and Andrew, were literally trying to dig a hole to China.

What a blessing that Michael was able to come with us this time! Hailey and her cousin, Lily, loved having him bury their legs in the warm sand. 

My dad brought the miniature horses, which has become a fun tradition. The kids love all the rides, and of course, everyone just thinks they are SO cute :).

Every evening we would meet up at Nana and Papa's camp for s'mores and family time. It was a good thing that Josiah had on that extra padding because it saved him from getting really hurt in his many bike wrecks.

My brother, Jerry, his wife, Sonya, and their growing family. They are such camping rock stars! They make camping with toddlers/babies look easy :) 

Hailey tried out a boogie board. She looks like quite the surfer girl. She kept at it for way longer than anyone else. That water is so cold! I think she'd have a lot more fun doing this in Hawaii.

Daddy helped her out some.

My niece, Jess, got brave and tried it, too. Love her smile!

Me helping Jess.

We absolutely loved camping on the coast with the camper. Felt like we had more privacy and best of all we didn't have to worry if it would rain. Michael and I were able hunt for some treasures for the camper at vintage shops. The sign says, "Coffee! You can sleep when you're dead!". We also added a tin match box holder between the cupboards.

Here is a retro nod to our patriotic bent. We found this ceramic, cast iron trivet with a scene of the Crossing of the Delaware. Ironically it was made in England.

One of our favorite traditions is the seafood feast (for those of us who like seafood). We stop off at Kelly Brighton's Marina and get fresh crab, and in the shell oysters and steamer clams. We go back to camp and cook everything up with lots of garlic butter. Yum! A good time was had by all and we look forward to the next time we get to camp together.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer as it is slipping away so fast!

God Bless,
Jackie