Pickles

I have the most simple recipe for pickles...and they are so good.


Ingredients
3-6 fresh pickling-style cucumbers, (must be fresh!)
2 cups water
2 tablespoons canning salt
4 tablespoons white vinegar
3 cloves garlic
dash of red pepper flakes (optional)
empty spaghetti sauce jar or other jars (clean and sterilized)

Method

Combine water, salt, vinegar in small saucepan.  This is the “brine.”  Bring to boiling.  Boil 1 minute, remove from heat, allow to cool down a bit for 20 minutes or so.

Mince or crush garlic cloves and put into bottom of jar.  Add pepper flakes, (if using).

Wash cucumbers very well and then slice ¼ inch off of the blossom end (not the stem end) of each one.  Slice cukes into quarters length-wise and then pack them into the jar.

Pour still-warm water mixture over cukes, just to cover.

Let stand on counter top, uncovered, until cool, (about 1 hour).  Then close lid and put in fridge.

Taste test after 4 days.  Should be perfect in 6-7 days.

Note:  Once all pickles are gone, you can re-use the brine once or twice.  Just add more sliced cukes to jar, and let sit in the fridge until ready.