Aggie Pickles Recipes

QUICK AND EASY PICKLES

Steps:

• Mix the sea salt, apple cider vinegar, and water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the brine from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Arrange the cucumbers upright in a container large enough to hold the brine. Place the dill sprigs in amongst the cucumbers in the jars. The cucumbers should be fitted tightly and should come within 1/2-inch of the top of the container.
• Fill the container with the brine to the top and tap on a flat surface to remove any possible air bubbles.
• The pickles will last for up to a few weeks.

AGGIE PICKLES

Steps:

• Pour the liquid off of the pickles. Discard. These will make their own juice.
• Add the garlic, sugar and Tabasco.
• Turn over once a day for seven days. I start these upside down on the jar lid. They may be good by the second or third day. Sometimes ours are all gone by the seventh day. Keep these refrigerated.

PICKLED YELLOW SQUASH

Steps:

• Put the squash in a large pot and salt heavily. Let stand for one hour.
• Drain the liquid from the squash. Take paper towels and wipe thoroughly until most of the salt is removed. Do not wash the squash!
• Prepare the brine and place in a large pot.
• Add the green pepper and bring to a boil.
• Add squash and onion.
• Return to a boil.
• Remove from heat.
• Put in jars leaving 1/2" headspace.
• Place lids, screw on bands finger-tight and process in a boiling water bath (5 minutes up to 1000 feet in elevation; 10 minutes from 1001 to 6000 feet; 15 minutes >6000 feet).
• Let jars cool; store in a cool, dark place.

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.

PICKLED SQUASH

Steps:

• In a large pot or bowl, layer sliced squash and onions, and sprinkle eash layer generously with kosher salt.
• Let sit 1 hour.
• Drain.
• In large pot combine vinegar, sugar, pickling spice, and crushed red pepper and bring to a boil.
• Add squash and onions and return to boil.
• Ladle vegetables and enough of the liquid to cover them within 1/2 inch into sterilized jars.
• Wipe rims and jars clean, and put lids and rings on jars.
• Process jars in hot water bath for 10 minutes.
• Remove jars from water bath and allow to cool.
• Any jars that do not seal should be refrigerated and used withing 2 weeks.

EASY HOMEMADE PICKLES

Steps:

• Cut each cucumber lengthwise into six spears. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, dill and garlic; set aside. , In a Dutch oven, combine remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; cook and stir just until sugar is dissolved. Pour over cucumber mixture; cool., Transfer to jars if desired and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Store in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.