Pickles and Pesto

The phone rang about 8:30.  Hello?  It was my super energetic cousin with a pronouncement.  It's pickle day!!  It wasn't what I had planned for the day, but I just had to go for it, since after all it was pickle day and who could fight that ?  We made pickles all day and then after a dog walk and a breather, some pesto.  It was so much fun, I can't remember the last time I did something like this.

The recipe....
Peggy's (formerly Patti's) Bread and & Butter Pickles
makes 7 pints
25 pickling cucumbers sliced 1/4 in
8 sweet med. sized onions sliced thin
1/2 Cup Kosher Salt
layer cucumbers onion and salt and let sit for 2.5 hours undisturbed in a large bowl

In a large pot
5 cups of apple cider vinegar
2.5 cups sugar
2 Tablespoons celery seed
2 Tablespoons mustard seed
2 teaspoons turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
bring to a boil and turn off and let sit

Drain pickles/onions well in a colander.  Add to the sweet brine and reheat until hot.

Water Bath
Fill canning pot 3/4 full with hot water, & bring to a boil.
Pack jars to 1/8 inch from the top filling with liquid brine put on lid but don't over screw the lid, just to tight.

Place all 7 jars in the canning pot, boil for 5 minutes with the lid on.  Take them out and cool on a dishtowel and the lids should pop/& seal within 15 minutes.
& then, do it all over again and share with friends!!

Had to inaugurate my machine... Thanks again Igs!!