Amish Candied Sweet Pickle Recipes

CRAVEN COUNTY SWEET PICKLES RECIPE:

Steps:

• Soak the cucumbers in ice cold water for 30 minutes. Drain. Trim off the ends of the cucumbers, then slice (a mandoline is best) into 1/4-inch slices.
• Place sliced cucumbers in a large non-reactive container (stainless steel or porcelain) and cover with boiling water. There will be a foam on the cucumbers for this first application of boiling water, but you will not have any foam after that.
• Do not cover the container with a lid. This is because the water is so hot, and you do not want to cook the pickles - just "scald" them.
• Let sit until Day 2.
• The cucumbers do not have to be refrigerated during the five (5) day process. You want the ingredients to be at room temperature and the water you pour over them to be at the boiling point when you are processing.
• Drain off water (do not rinse the pickles) and cover with fresh boiling water and pickling salt mixture.
• Pickling salt mixture = 1 1/2 cups pickling salt to 1 gallon boiling water
• Drain off water/salt mixture.
• Do not rinse the pickles after the salt step. Just drain the water mixture off and proceed to the next step.
• Cover with fresh boiling water and alum mixture.
• Alum mixture = 2 1/2 tablespoons alum to 1 gallon boiling water
• Drain off alum water and discard.
• Do not rinse the pickles after the alum step. Just drain the water mixture off and proceed to the next step.
• Boil together enough cider vinegar and pickling spices to cover the cucumber slices. (1 gallon cider vinegar and 3 tablespoons pickling spices wrapped in cheese cloth).
• Pour prepared cider vinegar/pickling spices over the cucumber slices.
• I place a towel on top of the container, with a rubber band around the pot/towel to hold in place. I do this because the vinegar smell is so strong . I then put the container in the garage so they will not smell up the house.
• Let the cucumbers sit in the vinegar solution, covering the top with a towel to keep "whatever out." Do not cover the mixture with a lid.
• Take cucumbers out of cider vinegar; drain off cider vinegar and dispose (or throw away) the vinegar and spice sack. I do not put the spices back into my pickles. I am sure it would be okay if you did, but I do not like having the spices in my pickles.
• I put my jars, lids, and rings into the dishwasher and run on a regular cycle with dishwasher detergent. If you do not have a dishwasher, just wash as you would regular dishes and rinse with VERY hot water. This way you can be assured that your end product will be free of contaminants that may have been in the jar previously.
• General Rule: For every five (5) cups of sliced cucumbers, add two (2) cups of granulated sugar (you want to thoroughly cover the cucumbers as you would if you were flouring a piece of chicken to deep fry).
• When I pack the jars, I put approximately a dozen slices of pickles and then 1/4 cup of sugar sprinkled around on the slices - then another dozen or so pickles slices and another 1/4 cup of sugar until you have filled up the jar. You will end up with approximately one (1) cup of sugar per quart jar.
• As the sugar dissolves it "pulls out" the vinegar from the pickles and makes a sweet light syrup. When the sugar has dissolved, if you do not have syrup high enough in the jar to cover all of the pickles just add more sugar. I like to let my pickles age for a week and then refrigerate - they are fantastic cold.
• Make sure the pickles are covered with the vinegar/sugar liquid or your top cucumbers will turn darker.
• NOTE: The sugar sometimes does just sit on the bottom. I turn my jars upside down from time to time so the sugar will travel from the bottom to the top (which is now in the lower position). As you do this, the sugar will dissolve and draw the vinegar out of the pickles and make a syrup that will cover them. I turn the jars until the sugar has completely dissolved. It may take a few turns; however, you can also hold the jar in your hand and turn it back and forth to speed up the process.
• Your jars will not be sealed but your pickles will be preserved. You can eat these sweet pickles immediately, but are much better if they are allowed to sit in the syrup for a week or so.
• I prefer my pickles cold - straight from the refrigerator. They are a better taste and texture. You can store the pickles in a cool, dark place for many years.
• Yield: 35 pounds of cucumbers yielded approximately 18 quarts of sweet pickles.

CANDIED DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Stir sugar and cider vinegar together in a large bowl until the sugar is dissolved. Add pickle slices and stir to coat. Pour into a jar and seal. Store in refrigerator, flipping the jar daily, for 1 week.

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.

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.

OLD FASHIONED SWEET NINE DAY PICKLES

Steps:

• STEP ONE: Cut cucumbers in 1/2 inch pieces or a little larger and place in a crock or large glass container. Bring the soaking brine to a boil, pour over cut cucumbers, cover with a clean cloth and weigh down with a plate. Cover crock with a clean tea towel.
• Let stand three days.
• STEP TWO: Drain, put back in crock and cover with fresh water. There is no salt added to this.
• Let stand two days.
• STEP THREE: Drain and place back in crock.
• Bring the pickle solution with the alum to a boil and simmer two minutes pour over.
• Stand overnight.
• STEP FOUR: Drain and place back in crock. Make Sweet Pickle brine, bring to a boil and pour over. For three days drain this syrup into a large pot and bring to a boil. Pour back over the cucumber slices. The third day once again bring the syrup to a boil. Put pickles into sterilized jars, pour hot brine over and seal.
• I often replace some of the cucumber pieces with cauliflower chunks, making for a mixed sweet pickle.
• Makes about eight pints.

AUTHENTIC AMISH REFRIGERATOR PICKLES RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• Slice the veggies into 2 quart jars, I like to make layers of them: you can leave out the onions and peppers, if you want, but they are so good! Mix your other ingredients in a large measuring cup, stir well. The sugar will not be dissolved yet. Pour over sliced vegetables, evenly in each jar. You will finish filling the jars with cold tap water. I shake the jar a few times during the 24 hrs to mix. No need to cook it, ready to eat in 24 hours. Taste best if eaten within a week or two, but I like to add tomato wedges or slices to this liquid for overnight, when it is close to empty of veggies, use the next day, unbelievable with sandwiches I have also pickled hot peppers using a batch of this same liquid~They are delicious!