Christmas Pickles

== Ingredients ==
* 8 pint canning jars
=== Soaking solution ===
* 9 large cucumbers, (8 to 10)
* 2 cups pickling lime
* 2 gal water
=== Boiling solution ===
* 1 cup vinegar
* 1 bottle red food coloring (Shilling's is prettiest)
* 1 tbsp alum
=== Syrup ===
* 2 cups vinegar
* 10 cups sugar, (5 pounds)
* 2 cups water
* 14 oz red hots, (12 – 14 oz.)
* 8 cinnamon sticks, l per jar
* 2 tsp salt
== Directions ==
# Peel and remove seeds from 8 to 10 large cucumbers.
# Seeds can be removed with an apple corer.
# Slice into ½ to ¾ inch wide rings.
# Soak overnight in lime and water in a porcelain container (use non-aluminum).
# Wash, drain; soak in clear water and covered with ice cubes for 3 hours.
# Drain.
# Put in large pot.
# Cover with water and other ingredients for the boiling solution.
# Boil for 1 hour; then drain.
# Make syrup and bring to boil to dissolve sugar.
# Use one cinnamon stick for each jar you think you will have.
# Pour syrup over cucumbers and let stand overnight.
# Drain syrup from cucumbers into separate pan and bring to a boil.
# Pour back over cucumbers.
# After cool, cover with saran wrap.
# Repeat step 5 for 3 days.
# On the fourth morning, heat syrup again.
# While heating, pack cucumbers in sterilized pint jars (larger jars can be used) with cinnamon stick.
# Pour heated juice into jars to fill up almost to top.
# If you don't have enough, make more juice of water and red food coloring.
# Seal jars.
# Putting in water bath is optional.
__NOTOC__
Category:Christmas Side Dishes
Category:Pickle Recipes
Category:Vinegar Recipes
Category:Alum Recipes
Category:Apple Recipes
Category:Cucumber Recipes
Category:Lime Recipes
Category:Red hots Recipes