Cucumber N Zucchini Bread N Butter Pickles

Crisp Sweet Pickles to enjoy out of the jar or top a burger or sandwich.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 30
• Yields: 3 pints

Ingredients

• 2  lbs pickling cucumbers, and zucchini. fresh picked
• 1  medium onion, quartered, sliced about 1/4-inch thickness
• 1⁄3 cup kosher salt
• 1  teaspoon nigella seeds (optional)
• 1  teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
• 1  teaspoon black mustard seeds
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  dill seed
• 3  garlic cloves
• 3  grape leaves (optional) or 3  raspberry leaves (optional)
• 3  cups cider vinegar
• 1  cup water
• 2 1⁄2 cups  organic sugar
• 2  teaspoons ground turmeric

Directions

1. Wash cucumbers and zucchini and cut off the ends. Slice crosswise into 1/8-inch slices. Toss in a large bowl with the salt and onion slices; cover with about 4 to 6 cups of ice cubes. Cover and let stand for 4 hours or refrigerate overnight.
2. Prepare the boiling water bath. Add water to a large canner with rack and heat to about 180°. The water should be high enough to be at least 1 inch above the filled jars.
3. Wash jars thoroughly and heat water in a small saucepan; put the lids in the saucepan and bring almost to the boil; lower heat to very low to keep the lids hot.
4. Drain the cuke/zuke mixture in a large colander and rinse with cold water.
5. Mix nigella seeds, mustard seeds,, dill seeds and distribute among the jars.
6. Place garlic, one leaf per jar if using (for crispness).
7. In a large pot (nonreactive) over medium heat, combine the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Add the drained cucumber mixture and bring to a boil. With a slotted spoon, loosely pack the vegetables in prepared jars. Ladle the hot liquid into jars.
8. With a clean damp cloth wipe the rims of the jars then cover with 2-piece jar lids. Adjust the screw on rings firmly but do not over-tighten.
9. Place filled in the prepared boiling water bath, adding more hot water as needed to bring the water up to about 1 inch above the jars. Bring the water to a boil. Cover and continue boiling for 10 minutes.
10. Lift the jars out of the water and place on a rack to cool for 12-24 hours. Remove rings and label. Give it a week for flavors to meld.
11. .