In the Kitchen

For the first time in several years, mama made her delicious pickle recipe. We call them Meemom's Pickles- even though it was our mom who gave the recipe to her mother- because our Meemom used to make them "all the time". They're the sweet kind of pickles and if you care to, try out the recipe - we don't think you'll be disappointed.

Meemoms- Bread & Butter Pickles

8 to 10 lg cucumbers

5 cups of sugar
6 med onions

1 1/2 tsp turmeric
1/3 cups pickle salt

1 1/2 tsp celery seed
3 cups distilled white vinegar

2 Tbs mustard seed

Lots of ice

Wash cucumbers; slice; and add sliced onions. Mix. Layer cucumbers and onions in a pan, sprinkling salt over each layer as you work.Then sprinkle a tray of ice cubes through the pickles and another tray of ice cubes on top. Put something heavy on top of the pan (such as a large lid) and let stand 3hours.

Drain slices thoroughly & discard water. Combine distilled vinegar, sugar, and spices. Divide pickles and onions into 2 batches, placing each in a large pot; pour liquid mixture over slices evenly; heat just to boiling point. Meanwhile put canning jars in dishwasher and run on hot cycle. Ladle pickles into hot jars right out of dishwasher; wipe rims of jars with clean damp cloth and screw on lids.

Give the closed pickle jars a 'water bath' (to kill any harmful bacteria) by placing them back into a pot of water allowing them to boil for about 10 minutes. Remove and allow jars to cool and seal. You know they are sealed when you push on lids and they do not click, after they have cooled somewhat.

Notes- To sterilize lids boil them in hot water as you ladle into jars and take out as you need them. I also buy a bag of ice to use as this recipe uses a lot of ice.