Cucumber Lime Pickles

Nancy Sneed's Note:

A delicious condiment to compliment any meal. Delicious served with sandwiches.

• Total Time: 57 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 27 hrs
• Cook Time: 30 hrs 35 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 6 pints

• 7 lbs cucumbers , sliced lengthwise
• 2 cups pickling lime
• 2 gallons water
• 2 quarts vinegar
• 8 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 3 drops green food coloring (optional)

Make a syrup

• 2 quarts vinegar
• 8 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt

Directions:

1. Soak the cucumbers lime and water in enamel or crockery for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. (Do not use Aluminum Ware).
3. Remove from lime water and rinse in 3 cool waters.
4. Soak 3 additional hours in ice and water.
5. Remove carefully to drain.
6. Mix syrup ingredients and stir until dissolved.
7. Pour over the cucumbers.
8. Let set 5 or 6 hours or overnight.
9. Add pickling spices to taste.
10. (Use whole cloves or allspice).
11. Boil mixture for 35 minutes.
12. Fill sterilized jars with cucumber slices and pour syrup over cucumbers leaving 0.125 inch head space.
13. Seal jars.
14. If syrup does not cover cucumbers while boiling, mix partial recipe of syrup and add it.

Reviews

[Toadflax]

Sorry to disagree with anyone but there is NO danger of botulism in this recipe. Botulism requires a low acid environment and is not an issue in this high-acid food. Yes, modern canning methods say they must be processed but many people have had sucess without doing so - probably because they are very careful about cleanliness. Other types of spoilage will be fairly obvious and most of us would know to discard a spoiled product.

[Snowpeas]

This recipe is wonderful! You can't go wrong with it. Personally, I don't process the pickles because I like the texture better this way. Pickles are a high acid food and I don't worry much about them. However, it is such a blessing that we can all make our own personal choices! Thanks for the recipe Nancy!

[Breez]

This recipe deserves five stars. I have a recipe similar to this one that I've used for years, and it's a GREAT recipe. Just remember to put those hot, filled jars in a hot water bath and process them for the time required for your altitude. The FDA has changed it's rules over the last several years, so for safety sake, we need to follow them.