I have a sister named Mary Ann. For reasons unknown to me, since I am by far the youngest of the five children and am not privy to many of the old family secrets, her nickname is "Min" or "Minnie." When her siblings began to have children, she eventually became known as "Auntie Min."

Auntie Min loves to cook and, unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that she is a great cook. Many people love to go to her house and enjoy wonderful meals of lasagna, Italian sausages, and many other fine foods. They also love her pickles. I'm sure they like to visit her as well, but her food is definitely a bonus.

We all grew up on a farm in a neighborhood so overrun with relatives that it was known as "Dane Hill." Auntie Min lives in the old Sears Roebuck farmhouse and loves to garden. We think she inherited most of the gardening genes from our father, known to all in his day as J. T.

In the summer, Auntie Min's gardens -- she has at least three -- are filled with vegetables like beans and tomatoes and onions. More importantly, they contain vast quantities of cucumbers, garlic, and dill. And, when it's harvest time, they are destined to become that delicacy known as "Auntie Min's Pickles." That's where this introduction ends, but, luckily for you, that's where this book begins!