Homemade pickles

Not just any pickles; kosher dill pickles. It took a couple of tries to get things right, but it was sure worth the effort. I used Alton Brown's recipe for this batch. These are very good. Very similar in taste to the pickles that they serve at Canters Deli.

From The Hollow Leg Diner - images

From The Hollow Leg Diner - images

What goes well with pickles? Everything. Especially pastrami sandwiches. To keep with the homemade theme, I decided to make my own pastrami to go with the pickles. I picked up a bunch of corned beef after St. Patrick's Day with the express purpose of making pastrami. Again, I turned to Food Wishes for the recipe. I didn't cook this in the oven, as Chef John does, but I did use the recipe for the spice rub. I smoked this on the BBQ for about 5 hours. It was a little salty, but the flavors from the spices were dead-on.

I don't go with the traditional deli-style pastrami sandwich. I like mine on Jewish rye with yellow mustard, swiss cheese and sliced pickles. A couple of pickle spears on the side and you got yourself one helluva lunch.

No pictures of the pastrami sandwich. I was hungry and ate it before I remembered to get the camera. I planned to take pictures the next day when I made another sandwich for lunch. Ate that one too fast as well. Next day.....pretty much the same. Seeing a trend develop?