The Humble Box - Spicy Quick Pickled Radishes

Poet and Flower have slowly accumulated things. Things being a vague term to describe clothes, toys, books, and more toys. These items have slowly accumulated despite my best efforts. They have filled the kids' rooms and have slowly spilled out into other parts of the house. It will be dark, and G or I will stumble across a lego or squishy toy. I never knew how sharp and pointy a lego could be until I stepped on one.

Of all their toys, the humble cardboard box is their favorite. The boxes spark so much creativity in the kids. We will get large boxes in the mail, and they will promptly be commandeered to become an airplane, a car, or structural support for a tower or, more recently, a counter for an ice cream shop. When they were learning to walk, they had a cardboard box house complete with windows and a skylight.

When we were waiting for Poet and Flower to arrive, I spent my pregnancy thinking about all the perfect things to buy, or aka, things that they would need. As I've accumulated all these things, it gives me pause. The best things are the simplest, and more is not better. I used to joke with G that more is more and laugh. I looked for the perfect color shade or fabric. And I tortured G to no end about those choices.

I looked for cribs, sheets, and a crib. The crib that neither Poet nor Flower used for several months. Instead, they slept in their own bassinet that we would roll from our bedroom to the family room daily. They slept next to us lined up a row. Flower loved her bassinet from the beginning. She loves her space and her sleep. Poet spent most of his nights trying to figure out how to sleep with Mom and Dad.

Like the humble box, simple foods are a pleasure. I made spicy quick-pickled radishes this week. We have been eating plenty of salads, and summer radishes are tangy and crunchy. Quick pickling involves making a pickling brine, then jarring the radishes and keeping them in the fridge to pull out when you need them. The radishes come out sweet and tangy. We also love them with tuna or with tacos.

Cardboard boxes have given me pause. As I look for more toys or clothes, I will keep that in my mind. Perhaps all we need is already what we have.

Spicy Quick Pickled Radishes

This is a quick and easy pickled radish recipe. The radishes are sweet and tangy, a perfect accompaniment to a sandwich or salad.

You can pickle almost any summer vegetable like cucumbers, turnips or kohlrabi. To make this vegan, substitute sugar for honey.

Makes 2 jars

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon honey ((or 1 tablespoon sugar))
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper corns
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, honey, coriander seeds, pepper and salt. Bring to a boil.
2. Slice the radishes thinly with a sharp knife or mandoline. Gently fill a mason jar with the radishes and pour the pickling mixture over it. Let the radishes cool to room temperature and then store them in the refrigerator.
3. The pickled radishes are best within about 5 days, but they will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.