Monday, August 15, 2011

Sunshine Pickles...

I am sure many of you have heard of "Sun Tea" - remember buying those jugs, filling them up w/ water, adding tea bags and putting the jug out and letting that tea steep in the sun! Well... my good friend Tonja gave me a recipe she received from an old farmer's wife for "Sunshine Pickles"
Start with a 1 gallon glass jar ( just like sun tea )

2 Cups White Vinegar
1/2 Cup Pickling Salt
1/2 tsp Alum Powder (in the spice section at the grocery)
2 Cups of Water

Stir until the salt dissolves

Cut the pickling cucumbers into spears and pack them into the jar. Add 4
sprigs of fresh dill and 6 garlic buds (in between the cucumbers if possible)

Fill the remainder of the jar with water, put the lid on tight and shake.

Set jars outdoors in the sun for three days, giving the jar a vigorous shake each
day.

Refrigerate after the third day.

I must tell you... these pickles are tasty! I think you could add a slice of a banana pepper to give them a bit of heat.

I didn't make up my pickles in a gallon jug. I used quart canning jars. I filled each jar half way w/ the pickling mixture, place a few sprigs of dill in each jar along w/ a couple of garlic cloves. I topped the jar off with more water and placed the jars on the patio railing. I have done another batch since these photos were taken and I will be putting another batch out tomorrow! Simple and tasty! Perfect to take along on a picnic, to a cookout or serve w/ supper! Hope you try and enjoy!