Sweet Gherkins
These pickles take 4 days to make.
1/2 cup Salt
8 cups Sugar
6 cups Vinegar
3/4 tsp Turmeric
5 lb Cucumbers, 3" long or less
2 tsp Celery seed
2 tsp Mixed pickling spices
8 1" pieces cinnamon sticks
1/2 tsp Fennel
The cucumber stems need not be removed. Wash the cucumbers, place them in a kettle and cover with boiling water. About 6 hours later, drain and cover with fresh boiling water. Allow to stand overnight and repeat process.
After 6 hours, once again drain and cover with fresh boiling water to which the salt has been added. Let stand overnight.
Drain and prick cucumbers 3 times with a sharp table fork. Mix 3 cups sugar and 3 cups vinegar, add spices, bring to a boil and pour over cucumbers. Six hours later, drain the syrup into a kettle, add 2 cups of sugar and 2 cups of vinegar, bring to a boil and pour the cucumbers again. Let stand overnight.
In the morning, drain the syrup into the kettle, add 2 cups sugar and 1 cup vinegar, bring to a boil and pour over cucumbers. Six hours later, drain off the syrup once more, add one last cup of sugar and bring to a boil. Pack cucumbers into clean, hot jars and cover with the syrup to with-in 1/2-inch of the top. Place jars in boiling water and process for 5 minutes after the water comes to a boil.
Makes 7 - 8 pints