21 Day Pickle Food

14 DAY PICKLES

Steps:

• Combine cucumbers, water and walt in a large pan; heat to boiling, to dissolve salt.
• Pour over cucumbers and let set on counter for 7 days. (Use plastic or glass containers.).
• On the eighth day drain and cover with plain water in same container.
• On ninth day drain and cover with alum and boiling water.
• On the tenth day drain and cover with boiling water; cool and drain.
• Cover with vinegar, sugar, and pickling spice that has been heated to boiling; let set on counter.
• For next four days drain syrup into pan and add 1 cup more sugar.
• On the 14th day you can process pickles by canning or keep in the refrigerator indefinitely (years).

EIGHT-DAY ICICLE PICKLES

Steps:

• Day 1: Place the cucumbers into a large (10-quart) jar or pickle crock. Stir the pickling salt and 16 cups of water (or as needed to cover the cucumbers) into a large pot, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the salt is dissolved. Pour the boiling salt mixture over the cucumbers, and cover the crock with a cover or dinner plate.
• Days 2 and 3: Stir the pickles and brine once each day. Cover the crock each time.
• Day 4: Pour off the brine. Bring 16 more cups of water to a boil, and pour the boiling water over the pickles. Cover.
• Day 5: Pour off the water from the pickles again, and bring alum and 16 cups of water to a boil. Stir until the alum is completely dissolved. Pour the boiling water-alum mixture over the pickles. Cover.
• Day 6: In a large pot, boil 16 more cups of water with the sugar, pickling spice, vinegar, and food coloring. Pour the water-alum mixture from the pickles and discard, and pour the boiling sugar mixture over the pickles. Cover.
• Day 7: Pour off the syrup from the pickles, but retain the syrup. Transfer the syrup into a large pot, bring to a boil again, and pour over the pickles. Cover.
• Day 8: Pour off and retain the syrup again, and transfer into a large pot. Reboil the syrup over medium heat. Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the pickles into the hot, sterilized jars, and pour the boiling syrup in, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

14 DAY UNSEALED PICKLES

Steps:

• 1ST DAY: Dissolve salt in 1 gallon boiling water.
• Pour over cucumbers and let stand overnight.
• 2ND DAY: Pour off salt water.
• Add 1 gallon boiling water mixed with alum.
• Let stand overnight.
• 3RD DAY: Pour off alum water.
• Add 1 gallon clear boiling water.
• Let stand 24 hours.
• 4TH DAY: Boil 1 gallon vinegar and spices wrapped in cloth bag.
• Boil 15 minutes and pour over drained cucumbers.
• Let stand 9 days moving spice bag around each day.
• 13TH DAY: Slice or cut pickles and layer alternately with sugar until all sugar is used.
• Let stand overnight.
• 14TH DAY: Can.
• (Sugar will pull juice out of cucumbers and make a syrup.) Recipe calls for unsealed pickles; however, I heat the syrup and pickle slices and pack them in hot jars.
• I store these in refrigerator.

ONE DAY PICKLES

Steps:

• Pour brine on cucumbers and refrigerate 24 hours.

OLD FASHIONED SWEET NINE DAY PICKLES

Steps:

• STEP ONE: Cut cucumbers in 1/2 inch pieces or a little larger and place in a crock or large glass container. Bring the soaking brine to a boil, pour over cut cucumbers, cover with a clean cloth and weigh down with a plate. Cover crock with a clean tea towel.
• Let stand three days.
• STEP TWO: Drain, put back in crock and cover with fresh water. There is no salt added to this.
• Let stand two days.
• STEP THREE: Drain and place back in crock.
• Bring the pickle solution with the alum to a boil and simmer two minutes pour over.
• Stand overnight.
• STEP FOUR: Drain and place back in crock. Make Sweet Pickle brine, bring to a boil and pour over. For three days drain this syrup into a large pot and bring to a boil. Pour back over the cucumber slices. The third day once again bring the syrup to a boil. Put pickles into sterilized jars, pour hot brine over and seal.
• I often replace some of the cucumber pieces with cauliflower chunks, making for a mixed sweet pickle.
• Makes about eight pints.

16 DAY PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash cucumbers.
• Cover with salt water (1 cup pickling salt to 1 gallon water).
• Let stand for a week.
• Keep scum off daily.
• Make sure pickles stay under water.
• Drain and cover with boiling water.
• Leave 24 hours.
• Drain, cut into slices and cover with boiling water again.
• Add 1 large tablespoon of alum.
• Let stand three days.
• Drain.
• Cover with boiling water again.
• Let stand overnight.
• Drain.
• Cover with syrup for four days.
• Syrup: 10 pounds of sugar, 2 quarts white vinegar, 3 tablespoons of Picking spice, a couple of sticks of cinnamon.
• Tie in a cheesecloth bag.
• Drop in sugar mixture and bring to a boil.
• Drain syrup and heat to boiling.
• Pack in hot jars on 4th day.
• Pour syrup over pickles and seal jars.