Icicle Pickle Food

ICICLE PICKLE

Steps:

• Quarter cucumbers lengthwise.
• Cover the cucumbers with ice water and let stand overnight.
• Drain and pack upright in clean jars.
• Combine the sugar and vinegar with 2 cups of water in a pot.
• Boil for 3 minutes.
• Add the salt.
• Pour over the cucumbers, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
• Close the jars and process in a boiling-water bath for 10 minutes.

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.

ICICLE PICKLES RECIPE

Steps:

• 2 Gallons of cucumbers after they are cut lengthwise into quarters Put in a large crock: 1 gal water and 1 good pint of salt..let boil and then pour over cucumbers and let stand 1 week. Note: If brine does not cover the cucumbers ...mix more brine using the ratios of 1 gal water per 2 pts of salt. Weigh down cucumber with a plate so that they stay submerged. Cover with a towel and store in a cool area. Day 7 : Drain, then pour 1 gal boiling water over..let stand 24 hr. Day 8 : Drain, then pour 1 gal boiling water over..let stand 24 hr. Day 9 : Drain, then pour 1 gal boiling water over with 1-1/2 Tbsb. Alum and let stand 24 hr. Day 10 : Drain, bring to boil 2-x1/2 qts vinegar, 8 pts of sugar and a good big handful of mixed spices and pour over pickles and let stand 24 hr. Day 11: Pour off sweet vinegar, reheat and pour back over pickles each day for 3 (three) Days. Day 12: Pour off, reheat and pour back over pickles Day 13: Pour off, reheat and pour back over pickles Day 14: Pour off, reserving syrup Pack jars with pickles Reheat syrup to boiling and pour over pickles leaving 1/2" head space Seal and process 20 min Reprocess any jars that did not seal or refrigerate. All Done !

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.