I decided when I got up this morning that we were going to have burgers for dinner. Ridiculous burgers with everything on them including the kitchen sink.

What I didn’t know when I got up was Mr. Mailman was going to deliver a package with homemade Bread and Butter Pickles and homemade Peach Preserves from Ann and Melinda!!

WOW!

What a fabulous surprise! I immediately opened the box, opened the jars – and dug in! What a treat! These were not intended as a birthday present, but they did arrive on my birthday. I just love presents!

And words will never do justice to the taste! I’m officially spoiled. They’re sweet but not sweet, crunchy but tender. Perfect texture and perfect flavor. No other pickle will ever do. Ever.

And the preserves…

This is stand-in-front-of-the-refrigerator-with-a-spoon-good! It is peaches. Fabulous, ripe peaches. No cloying sweetness – just give-me-more peaches. My grandmother made peach preserves when we were little and I always thought hers was the best on the planet. I think grandma may have met her match.

Wow, indeed!

So, tonight’s burger didn’t get peach preserves on it, but it did get a hefty helping pf pickles. And cheese, mayo, homemade Irish Whiskey mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, bacon, avocado, and red onion. On a poppy seed roll.

Fresh fruit doused with Fico d’India – prickly pear liqueur – helped balance the burger. I mean… I could have gone for french fries, but… I needed to save room for Carrot Cake!

Happy Birthday, to me! What a great day it has been!