How to make homemade pickles from cucumbers 2012

If you have ever had a garden in your backyard and planted cucumbers, you know very well that they grow so fast and plentiful. You will have a cucumber jungle in no time.

You can only eat so many cucumbers in salad, so what do you do with you extra cucumbers - make pickles!

Here is my family's bread and butter pickles recipe that has been tried and tested.

• Up to 2 gallons of cucumbers (or about 20) - thinly sliced (thicker makes crunchier pickles)
• 2 cups of onions sliced thin
• 1/2 cup of "canning or pickling" salt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric 4 cups of sugar (you can use less)
• 2 tablespoon of mustard seed
• 2 level teaspoon celery seed
• 2 quarts of mild vinegar (you can use less, enough to cover cucumbers), white vinegar is recommended
• 1 teaspoon pickling spices (optional, but suggested)

You will need 3 hours to soak the cucumbers, so planning and timing is important before you start.

1. Wash, but do not peel, the cucumbers
2. Slice the onions, and them put in a large bowl.
3. Pour salt over your cucumbers, and then the water to cover (Note: You will need to use "canning or pickling" salt. From my experience, you will not get the characteristic taste of a pickle if you use any other salt, and the pickles you make with regular salt may be cloudy.)
4. Mix together, cover, and let stand for 3 hours (room temperature).

1. Drain the mixture to nearly dry.
2. Prepare your pickling liquid - Mix together the sugar, mustard seed, turmeric, celery seed, and vinegar. (Make sure you mix the spices together first and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Pour the pickling liquid over the cucumbers before putting on heat.
4. Place over low flame (do not boil) for about two hours. Pour into jars and seal, or refrigerate.

If you follow this recipe, you can preserve your cucumbers for quite some time by turning them into pickles. These pickles are great for sandwiches, to eat alone, and they keep for quite some time.

You will make lots and lots of pickles, so you might as well share with your neighbors. They will appreciate your neighborly gesture.

Enjoy!