[Image: lucylou.livejournal.com] Why are pickle recipe comics so great? Because they tell you to "stabbity-stab" cucumbers and warn you of "specs-fogging steam" when boiling a big pot of pickling spices. Lucy Knisley drew this after whipping up her own batch of full-sour pickles for the first time. The recipe requires pickles to lounge in their pickly juices for 24 to 36 hours, during which you are encouraged to talk to them ("C'mon! Be pickles!") according to step seven. [via notmartha.org] Related Are Pickles a Burger Condiment? Where To Find Fried Pickles on the East Coast Pickle Juice [Talk] The Year of the Pickle, and Other Jewish Food Astrology... More

"The Depression Dog is a unique Chicago treat full of history and terrific for anyone who doesn't want a salad-topped hot dog." Past Weeks' Dogs Papaya Dog24-Hour DogSlaw DogPuka DogThe Philly ComboTijuana Dogs When we think of a Chicago hot dog, we normally think of the classic dragged-through-the-garden jumbo dog piled high with various vegetables and neon green relish on a poppy seed bun. But a few old-school hot dog stands still serve what may very well be the original Chicago dog, what some refer to as the "Minimalist" or "Depression Dog." A Depression Dog features a regular-sized (eight per pound) natural casing all-beef frank instead of the jumbo (six per pound) dogs that often come on a standard Chicago... More

Impress your friends (or just be "that person who knows a bunch of random facts) by memorizing these 12 Pickle Facts Everyone Should Immediately Commit to Memory from mental_floss. For example, during his 1492 voyage Christopher Columbus gave pickles to his sailors to prevent them from getting scurvy. And look where we are today. Thanks, pickles!... More

From the New York Times: Jimmy Fallon joins one of the most exclusive clubs in television on Monday night, when he becomes the third host of NBC's Late Night. But he has already been welcomed by the ritual passing of the plastic pickle.The three-foot pickle arrived this week in Mr. Fallon's office, accompanied by a handwritten note from his predecessor, Conan O'Brien.... More

Photograph by Dumneazu Budapest-based blogger Dumneazu visited the central market in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, where he had "the best pickles in the world." Pickles stuffed with pickles, eggplants pickled whole, tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, if it grows it gets pickled. The cucumber pickles... oh my fracking Gods... Moldovans are proud of their wine and cognac, but they should be exporting the pickles. They should open pickle bars in all of Europe's cities and watch the money flow in. These weren't just good—they were A-Number One Hebrew Semitically Approved Sour Bombs. And to think I never thought of visiting Moldova until now. Pickle fanatics, you know where you're taking your next vacation. Related Meet & Eat: Rick Field, Rick's Picks... More

jewzo.com We've already started celebrating the incoming Year of the Ox, but what would astrological signs be like if they were assigned Jewish deli foods instead? Luckily Jewzo, a company devoted to this made-up Jewish Zodiac, came along and answered our prayers. Year of the Pickle includes 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, and 2009. "You’re the perfect sidekick: friends love your salty wit and snappy banter but you never overshadow them. That shows genuine seasoning from when you were a cucumber. Marry a Pastrami later in life." No offense ox, but Year of the Lox also sounds like a party. [via Save The Deli]... More

Aw, it's a town populated by pickles singing pickle-themed songs, walking their pickle dogs, throwing snowballs, and ice skating without a care in the world. What could possibly go wrong in such a wholesome, picture-perfect—HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, WHAT IS THAT GIANT HAND DOING? Run, little pickles, run! Watch the video after the jump.... More

Fried pickles from Wintzell's Oyster House in Mobile, Alabama. When visiting a couple weeks ago, I was more excited for these than the actual oysters. To save a half-second, just call them "frickles." Snackable like French fries or popcorn shrimp, these deep-fried discs have the briney flavor of salt and vinegar chips and the addictive quality of, well, anything deep-fried. Apparently pickle spears can get too soggy, so most restaurants serve the bread-and-butter kind usually found on hamburgers. To cut the vinegary punch, orders are usually served with a creamy dipping sauce. See what restaurant kitchens are sizzling pickles, not just potatoes and onions, after the jump. Note: Frickle-making is especially common in a certain region of the country.... More

Southerners have had a long love affair with all things fried. We eat fried chicken by the tub, savor fried oysters drenched in hot sauce, munch fried okra like popcorn, and still relish a mess of fried chitlins now and again. But dill pickles? Fried? More

Nothing beats the heat on a hot, sweaty day like a...frozen pickle pop? These kids seem to think so. Photograph from picklesickle.com Bob's Pickle Pops are gaining in popularity, both in schools and among those watching their weight. Made "not from just the brine left over from pickling, but from freshly squeezed pickles, much like an apple or orange is pressed," Bob's Pickle Pops are consumed either "frozen or unfrozen". As a pickle lover, I'm torn; is this the best or worst idea ever?... More