Pickle Recipe for Erin

Yum
via DesignSponge

Dill Pickles

These are easy, delicious and make terrific gifts. Be sure to buy cucumber pickles—not regular cucumbers. A small pickle of about four inches fits perfectly in a pint-sized mason jar. If you are not familiar with a mandolin, buy one for this project, and you won’t regret it. They are fabulous for slicing anything (just watch your fingers). Slice the pickles thinly, but not so thin that they become hard to work with. 1/8” is about right.

2 quarts water (1.9 liters)
1 quart cider vinegar (.95 liters)
3/4 cup canning salt (220g)
10 wide-mouth, pint mason jars
Approximately 25 pickles
2 bunches dill
tools: mandoline

1.Thoroughly wash jars and lids in hot water to sterilize.
2. Combine water, cider vinegar and salt in stockpot and bring to boil, stirring well.
3. Wash and trim ends from pickles.
4. Using a mandolin, carefully slice each pickle lengthwise. Stack pieces neatly in order, removing the two ends and place pickle in jar. Trim height of pickle as needed to fit. You should be able to get about 2 1/2 pickles in each pint jar. Place several pieces of dill in jar with pickles.
5. Pour hot vinegar/water solution over pickles filling jar to top. Screw lid down tightly.

The pickles can be eaten as soon as the next day, or can be stored in the refrigerator for months. Great with cheese on crusty bread!