Dilly Sun Pickles Food

DILLY SUN PICKLES

Steps:

• Scrub cukes well.
• Cut off both ends of cukes and vertically score their skin on opposite sides.
• Place cukes in a glass or a high quality plastic container.
• Place sprigs of dill on top of each layer of cukes. This is the time to add the optional few peppercorns and/or cloves of garlic.
• Boil enough water to fill container.
• Add 1 level tbs. salt per 2 cups of water.
• Top with 2 thick slices of white or rye bread and pour enough salty water to cover the bread.
• Cover container loosely with a plate or plastic wrap. (This is very important: there needs to be space under the cover to contain the fermentation caused by the bread.).
• Place container in a warm, sunny place.
• Carefully stir contents once a day, keeping the bread on top.
• (If your pickle making location is hot and sunny the dill pickles could be ready in 2 - 2 1/2 days. If it isn't very warm, it might take more than 3 days).
• Taste test.
• When the pickles are sour enough strain and reserve their liquid.
• Rinse the pickles in cold water.
• Fill a clean container with your dill pickles and the reserved liquid. Cover tightly and refrigerate.
• The pickles could be stored in the fridge for a week.

SUNSHINE DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• In a gallon glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, place a layer of dill in the bottom, then a layer of cukes; add garlic cloves if desired.
• Keep layering dill & cukes to the neck of the jar; finish with a layer of dill.
• Add vinegar and salt to the top of the jar; fill with cold tap water.
• Cover and screw on tightly (add a doubled over square of wax paper or plastic wrap if you like, too).
• Give the jar a few good shakes to distribute the salt.
• Set in a sunny spot outside for four days; mark the calendar with the "due date."
• Turn the jar slightly each day (for an even tan); leave out an extra day if rainy or cloudy.
• Chill and eat.
• IDEA: Add green or red pepper slices along with the dill for a taste explosion!
• SUGGESTION: When scrubbing the fresh cukes, sort-as-you-go into piles of uniform size. This makes filling the jar go much quicker--looks prettier too.

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Bring the vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the salt is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, place the peppercorns, red pepper flakes, dill and garlic in a 1-quart Mason (or other glass) jar. Pack the cucumbers in the jar as tightly as possible.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers so the cucumbers are completely submerged. Leave uncovered and allow to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 day before using. The pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Combine the salt and water in a pitcher and stir until the salt has dissolved.
• Rinse the cucumbers thoroughly and snip off the blossom end stem. Set aside.
• Place the peppercorns, pepper flakes, garlic, dill seed and fresh dill into a 1-gallon crock. Add the cucumbers to the crock on top of the aromatics. Pour the brine mixture over the cucumbers in order to completely cover. Pour the remaining water into a 1-gallon ziptop plastic bag and seal. Place the bag on top of the pickles making sure that all of them are completely submerged in the brine. Set in a cool, dry place.
• Check the crock after 3 days. Fermentation has begun if you see bubbles rising to the top of the crock. After this, check the crock daily and skim off any scum that forms. If scum forms on the plastic bag, rinse it off and return to the top of the crock.
• The fermentation is complete when the pickles taste sour and the bubbles have stopped rising; this should take approximately 6 to 7 days. Once this happens, cover the crock loosely and place in the refrigerator for 3 days, skimming daily or as needed. Store for up to 2 months in the refrigerator, skimming as needed. If the pickles should become soft or begin to take on an off odor, this is a sign of spoilage and they should be discarded.

HOMEMADE SWEET DILL YUM-YUM PICKLES

Steps:

• Slice the washed pickles into about 1/4 to 1/3-inch slices, then place in a medium bowl.
• Pour 2 cups sugar over the slices and toss/stir to coat with the pickle slices.
• Allow to sit out at room temperature for 24 hours tossing several times with a spoon during the 24 hours (I just leave a spoon in the bowl, juice will gather in the bowl, do not drain!).
• After the 24 hours (do not drain the juice in the bowl) in a medium saucepan combine 2 cups sugar, vinegar, water, pickling spice; bring to a boil over medium heat stirring until the sugar is dissolved (about 2 minutes).
• Make certain that the bowl is Pyrex or heat-proof or it might crack when you pour the boiling water into it -- pour the water mixture over the sugared pickles and the sugar juice that has gathered in the bowl; mix very well with a spoon.
• Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature for about 8 hours or overnight.
• Drain pickles (you don't have to completely drain).
• Transfer pickles to clean glass jars and store covered or uncovered in refrigerator.
• Serve cold.

PICKLED GREEN BEANS (DILLY BEANS)

Steps:

• Clean and Cut beans to fit in tall Mason Jars. (one pint).
• Place ingredients 2-5 into each jar.
• Add beans to jar(s) until full.
• Bring to boil ingredients 6-8.
• Pour boiling liquid over beans.
• Tighten lids.
• Process in boiling water for 5 minutes. *Correction: Processing time should be 10-15 min, not 5.*.
• I use what ever amount of beans I have on hand and make the liquid accordingly.

BLUE RIBBON DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• GET ALL OF THIS GOING BEFORE FILLING THE JARS.
• Wash 7 quart jars in hot, soapy water (or dishwasher), rinse and fill with hot water; set aside.
• Fill canning kettle half-full with hottest tap water; set on burner over high heat.
• In a medium saucepan, fit lids and rings together, cover with water, bring to a simmer.
• In a large saucepan, bring water, vinegar and salt to boil; turn off the heat; set aside.
• FILL JARS: place a layer of dill at the bottom of each jar, along with one garlic clove (if used), then TIGHTLY load the cukes into the jar to the NECK of the jar (depending on size you may get two nice layers with a few small cukes in the top--)---squeeze cukes into the jar tightly--uniform size helps; add a few TINY spriglets of dill at the top, too, and another garlic clove if desired.
• Once jars are loaded, pour in the brine leaving half-inch head space in each jar.
• Add lid and ring to each jar, tightening evenly.
• Place jars into canner with water JUST to the necks of the jars.
• Bring water ALMOST to a boil (about 15 minutes--depending on how fast it heats up).
• Remove jars, set on a dish towel on the kitchen counter, cover with another dish towel & let cool.
• Check for seal (indented lid), label jars or lids, store in cool dark cellar or cupboard.
• NOTES: When washing/scrubbing cukes, sort them into piles by size. This really helps make your jars look nicer, if you have uniform sizes (and this impresses the judges too!). And makes for easier packing, too.

SWEET DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Drain pickles and slice into 1/4 inch pieces. Place in a medium bowl with 2 cups sugar. Stir, cover and allow to stand at room temperature 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
• In a medium saucepan, mix together the remaining sugar, vinegar, water and pickling spice. Bring to a boil. Pour over the pickles. Allow the mixture to stand at room temperature 6 to 8 hours, or overnight.
• Transfer the pickles to sterile jars and store in the refrigerator. Serve chilled.