Pennsylvania Dutch Mustard Pickles Recipes

PA. DUTCH CHOW CHOW

Steps:

• Sterilize your jars and get your hot water canner set up.
• Cook each vegetable separately in a small amount of lightly salted water over medium heat until tender crisp. (Do not cook canned beans or gherkins, if using)
• Remove each when done from boiling water with slotted spoon and plunge into ice water bath to stop cooking. (A large bowl of ice water) Drain in colander. Layer each cooled, drained vegetable into a large bowl, then add the rinsed, drained beans; toss the layers gently with hands or wooden spoon to blend. Drain any additional water from the vegetables that accumulated in the bottom of the bowl.
• In large stockpot or kettle, bring pickling syrup ingredients to boil, stirring especially at first to dissolve sugar. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, if using. (I often skip it). Carefully add the mixture of vegetables to the boiling liquid. Return to boil and simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes.
• Ladle the vegetables into sterilized pint or quart jars, add liquid, filling each jar with the chow chow to within 1/2 inch of top. Seal each jar with new canning lid insert and ring.
• Process in hot water bath 5 minutes for 1,000 foot altitude or less for pints, 10 minutes for quarts. Add 5 minutes if 1.001 to 6,000 feet in altitude. Over 6,000 feet, add additional 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove jars from water, sit upright on towel-lined counter. Check seals as the jars cool. The inner part of the lid will often "pop" as it depresses as the contents cool. If any failed to seal, store these in the refrigerator and keep refrigerated, use up fairly soon.

DEB'S BREAD AND BUTTER PICKLES

Steps:

• Stir 2 quarts water and salt in a large pot until salt is dissolved. Submerge cucumbers in the water. Add ice to the water to keep cold. Let cucumbers soak for 2 hours.
• Drain salt water from pot. Rinse and drain cucumber slices twice.
• Stir sugar, 4 cups water, apple cider vinegar, turmeric, mustard seed, and celery seed together in a large pot; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; add cucumber slices. Simmer until the cucumbers are completely hot, but do not bring to a boil, about 10 minutes.
• Sterilize canning jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the cucumbers into the hot, sterilized jars, 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.
• Let cucumbers pickle 2 weeks before eating, shaking each jar once daily.

MUSTARD PICKLE

Steps:

• Dissolve the salt in about 4 litres of water. Put the onions or quartered shallots, tomatoes and cauliflower in a large bowl and cover with the salted water. Cover with cling film and keep in the fridge or a cool place for 24 hrs.
• Drain the vegetables in a colander and tip them into a large preserving pan or flameproof dish. Add the cucumber and capers, and cover with 2 litres of fresh water. Bring to the boil and cook for 10 mins. Drain the vegetables and tip into a large bowl.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the flour and stir well to make a roux. Slowly add the vinegar, stirring all the time, and cook for a few mins until thickened. Add the sugar, turmeric and mustard powder, and season with black pepper. Pour over the vegetables and stir to combine. Pack the vegetables into sterilised jars (see tip below) and seal.
• Leave in the fridge for at least 5 days before eating, so that the vegetables can absorb all the mustardy flavours. Will keep in the fridge for 6 weeks.