I’ve never entered or won in the State Fair before! But everybody in my family loves to can. My husband Mark and I sure love to make pickles (when we’re not enjoying country living or commuting to the Cities).

I learned the basics from my mom and gramma. Now I experiment with peppers and other flavors.

Mark calls these “dills with attitude.” But really, they’re just nice and mellow-hot. They won’t burn your tongue off or anything – even if you’re Norwegian, like us.”

Vicky Gjerde