Pickles

This is one of my best, best, best friends, Misti and her handsome little family.  Ahem...the hat on the baby is from me...love it!

If you say the words 'Misti's pickles' around a group of my friends, everyone will start ooohhhing and aaahhhing and exclaiming how much they LOVE Misti's pickles.  I have fond memories of visiting Misti when she opens a jar.  Immediately, everyone starts eyeballing the onions...they're the best part.  My husband even agrees to that statement and he hates onions...go figure. 

After 10 years of saying I was going to make these beauties, this year I finally did it!  I mentioned to my mother that I was in the cucumber market and a week later I had half a bushel of heirloom cucumbers and onions.  It's funny how mom's have a way of making you follow through on things.  According to the gardener, these vegetables were grown with love...ALWAYS a good sign!  I also lucked out with getting some carrots and onions from my friend Tammy.  Here's a picture of the lot:

I washed a dozen quart sized, wide-mouth jars and then crammed them full of dill, chilies, garlic, onion and vegetables.

Add the special pickle juice, and viola!  Pickles!...almost  The worst part now, is waiting the three months Misti recommends for proper pickling.  She said they might be good after a month, but I don't want to risk wasting any of this preciousness (Is that a word?).

Pickles

5c apple cider vinegar

7c water
1c pickling salt
1c sugar
1 clove garlic per jar (sometimes I put in more than 1 clove)
3 slices onion per jar (sometimes I use many onion slices)
2 or 3 chili peppers per jar (or about 1/2 - 1 TB flakes)
dill

Boil vinegar, water, salt & sugar. Put dill (1-2 sprigs) in jars first, pack w/ cucumbers, garlic, onions and peppers. Pour liquid on top to the brim. Seal jar. Every few minutes tighten the jar a bit, until you can't tighten anymore.

Note from Misti:  'This recipe can also be used with random veggies (green beans, asparagus, carrots, cauliflower) and sometimes do a whole jar of onions, because they taste SO good. I like lots of onions and garlic in the jar for more taste. You can add more chili pepper for more spicy pickles.'

*I made a 1 1/2 recipe of the pickle juice in order to fill 12 quart sized jars packed with vegetables.

Check back in 3 months for the verdict!!!   The verdict is in...click here!