Sweet Pickle Spears Recipes

BEST EVER SWEET PICKLES

Steps:

• In a large nonreactive bowl, combine cucumbers, onion and salt. Cover with crushed ice and mix well. Let stand 3 hours. Drain; rinse and drain thoroughly., In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, water, vinegars, mustard seed, celery seed and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cucumber mixture; return to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until heated through., Carefully ladle hot mixture into 4 hot wide-mouth 1-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Add 3 garlic cloves and 1 bay leaf to each jar. Remove air bubbles and, if necessary, adjust headspace by adding hot pickling liquid. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

QUICK SWEET-AND-SOUR PICKLE SPEARS

Steps:

• Fit the cucumbers, dill and garlic into a 1-quart Mason jar. In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, salt, mustard seeds and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Pour the hot mixture into the jar with the cucumbers and let cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and preferably overnight. The pickles will keep, refrigerated, for up to 2 weeks.

EMERIL'S HOMEMADE SWEET AND SPICY PICKLES

Steps:

• Place cucumbers, onions, pickling salt, and water in a large, non-reactive bowl. Cover and allow cucumbers to soak for 2 hours. Drain the water from the onions and cucumbers through a colander and rinse well for 5 minutes. Drain well and set aside.
• Combine the vinegars, sugar, mustard seeds, turmeric, cloves, garlic, and peppers in a medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and add the cucumbers and onions. Bring to a simmer and remove the saucepan from the heat.
• Fill each of the hot sterilized pint-size preserving jars with the pickle mixture, dividing them evenly, and enough of the liquid to come within 1/2-inch of the top. Add 1/2 teaspoon of Natural Pickle Crisp to each jar, if desired. With a clean damp towel, wipe the rim and fit with a hot lid. Screw on the metal ring just until the point of resistance is met. Process the jars in a hot-water bath for 15 minutes.
• Using tongs, remove the jars, place on a towel, and let cool. Test the seals by allowing the jars to stand at room temperature overnight or until the lids pop. Tighten the rings and store in a cool dry place. Let the pickles age for at least 2 weeks before using.

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.

SUMMERTIME SWEET PICKLES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan at medium-high heat, combine cider vinegar, salt, sugar, tumeric and mustard seed. Bring to a boil and let cook for 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice cucumbers and onion. Loosely pack the vegetables in a 1-quart canning jar or other similarly sized container. Pour hot liquid over the vegetables in the container. Refrigerate for 24 hours and enjoy! Keep refrigerated.

SWEET-AND-SPICY BREAD-AND-BUTTER PICKLES

Steps:

• To draw out excess liquid and increase crunch, toss cucumbers and onion with salt in a large colander. Add ice, and toss again. Place over a bowl, and refrigerate, tossing occasionally, for 3 hours. Drain. Rinse well, and drain again.
• Bring vinegar, sugar, mustard and celery seeds, peppercorns, turmeric, and red-pepper flakes to a boil in a saucepan. Add cucumbers and onion. Return to a boil (if using squashes, add them, then remove from heat; do not return to a boil).
• Ladle into 3 hot sterilized pint jars, leaving about 1/2 inch below each jar's neck. Wipe rims of jars with a clean, damp cloth; cover tightly with sterilized lids and screw tops. Using tongs or a jar clamp, transfer jars to a rack in a large canning pot or a large, deep pot filled with hot water, being sure to keep jars upright at all times. (Jars should be spaced 1 inch apart, and should not touch sides of pot.) Cover with water by 1 inch. Cover pot, and bring to a boil. Process jars in boiling water for 10 minutes. Let cool. Press down on each lid. If lid pops back, it's not sealed; refrigerate unsealed jars immediately, and use within 1 month. Sealed jars can be stored in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

SWEET PICKLE SPEARS

Steps:

• slice ends from cucumbers and cut into spears.
• Cover cucumbers with boiling water; let stand 2 hours.
• Drain and pack into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Bring remaining ingredients to a boil.
• Pour hot liquid over cucumbers, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Remove air bubbles.
• Adjust caps.
• Process l0 minutes in boiling water bath.

SWEET HOT PICKLES

Steps:

• Place sliced cucumbers in 1 gallon cold water and mix in 1 3/4 cups pickling lime. Refrigerate overnight. Next day, rinse 3-4 times until water is clear. Soak 3-4 hours in ice water then drain.
• Using 3-4 layers of cheesecloth, make a spice bag with the pickling spice and celery seed, tie bag well.
• Bring the vinegar, sugar, turmeric, spice bag and salt to a boil. Add cucumber slices and boil 30-40 minutes until cucumbers are mostly clear. Remove spice bag.
• Pack cucumbers and syrup into hot, sterilized jars. If using peppers, add 1 pepper to each jar. Adjust lids and bands. Put into enough boiling water to cover jars and boil for 15 minutes. Make sure jars seal.

SMASHED PICKLE SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the red onion and pickle brine.
• On your cutting board, whack the pickles with a meat mallet or the back of a wooden spoon, then rip into 1/2-inch pieces. (If using spears, simply rip them into 1/2-inch pieces.)
• Add the smashed pickles to the bowl, along with the celery, sour cream, dill and mayonnaise. Stir vigorously until creamy and combined. This salad is best eaten right away. (It can be refrigerated up to one day, but the dressing will start to get watery.)