Bread & Butter (Sweet) Pickles – canning recipe
Many of us have gardens - especially this year because of the COVID-19 virus. In addition to the few cucumbers I grew, my neighbor brought me a large container filled with cucumbers. No way could I eat all of them before they rotted so I began my search for a canning recipe. I looked through my cook books then on the Internet. The Internet is where I found exactly what I was looking for. Not only did it have the recipe, it had a tutorial and a YouTube video that walked me through the steps. I scrawled the recipe on a sheet of paper and headed back to the kitchen. This recipe is perfect for delicious pickles and I’ve enjoyed sharing jars of pickles with family and friends.
Something I learned from the YouTube video is that these pickles derived their name during WWII when food was a bit scarce and people made a sandwich with these Bread & Butter Pickles sandwiched between slices of buttered bread. Well, here goes my new recipe……
Wash jars and sterilize them in boiling water.
Recipe:
#1 Mix together and let set three hours 25 cucumbers (12 cups sliced)
6 onions (sliced)
2 bell peppers (I used green) (seeded & sliced) ½ cup Kosher salt (Pickling salt)
3 - 4 Garlic cloves (cut into very small pieces)
#2 Bring following to a boil to make brine
3 cups vinegar (I used cider vinegar)
5 cups sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
½ tsp celery seed
½ tsp turmeric
2 whole cloves
After #1 has set for three hours, drain liquid and add to the boiling brine. Bring to boil again pack into sterilized jars up to 1” from top. Add brine to cover pickles. Wipe top of jars with clean moist towel (or paper towel) to make certain nothing interferes with the seal. (Have jar lids in small pan of boiling water to sterilize and to soften rubber seal.) Remove seals with tongs and place on jar then screw on jar rings just hand tight.
Place jars in canner at least 1” under water. Process in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove from canner with jar tongs and set on towel. Lids will start popping and you’ll know they have sealed.
