Bernardin Pickle Crisp Recipes

CRISPY DILL PICKLE RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare jars - wash or sterilize them in the dishwasher - keeping them hot.
• Start water bath now - you want it close to the boiling point by the time you are ready to add your jars.
• Wash cucumbers - making sure to scrub the skin thoroughly.
• Cut off each end of the cucumber, and slice, dice or spear as desired.
• In a medium sauce pan, over medium high heat, bring vinegar, water and salt to a boil.
• In each jar, add 1 garlic clove, 1 teaspoon of dill seed, and 1/2 teaspoon of peppercorns to the bottom.
• Pack cucumbers tightly into each jar.
• Pour hot brine over cucumbers, leaving 1/4 inch head space at the top of each jar.
• Run a plastic utensil on the inside of the jar to release any air bubbles.
• Add 1/2 of a grape leaf on top of the cucumbers.
• Wipe top of jar with a clean damp cloth, add hot lid and band.
• Place in hot water bath and process for 10 minutes at a rolling boil. (Adjust time based on altitude as required)
• Remove jars with a jar lifter and place on a thick towel and let cool at room temperature for 24 hours.

CLASSIC GARLIC DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash and scrub lightly with a soft brush.
• Cut a thin slice from blossom ends to help prevent softening.
• Cut wide cucumbers into quarters lengthwise and long cucumbers so they fit in jars.
• Place in ice water bath while preparing everything else or up to 8 hours.
• Fill large pot or canner with water so that jars will be covered by 1" of water.
• Check jars for cracks, wash with warm soapy water, rinse well and place in canner.
• Heat jars in canner (no need to sterilize as final processing will be longer than 10 minutes).
• In medium size pot, combine vinegar, water and pickling salt. Bring to boil and simmer five minutes until salt is dissolved.
• Remove hot jars from canner.
• Place 2 dill heads, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp mustard seeds, 1/4 tsp peppercorns and 1/8 tsp hot pepper flakes into each pint jar (double if using quart jars).
• Tightly pack cucumbers into jars to within 3/4 inch of rim.
• Add hot vinegar brine to cover cucumbers. Use a plastic utensil to remove any air bubbles and add more brine, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Wipe rim with clean cloth and seal with hot sealing lid. Screw band on top and tighten finger tight.
• Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes for pint (500 mL) jars or 15 minutes for quart (1 L) jars.
• Makes 4 pint (500 mL) jars or 2 quart (1 L) jars
• Processing time from National Center for Home Food Preservation. Remember to adjust cooking times if you're at altitudes higher than 1000 ft (306 m) above sea level.

DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash cucumbers well.
• Chill cucumbers overnight in fridge, or, let soak in a tub or sink of ice water for several hours.
• Trim both ends off the cucumbers, then halve or quarter them lengthwise. Set aside in a large bowl.
• Put the vinegar, water and pickling spice (in a spice bag) in a pot. Add salt (or salt sub) and sugar, (or liquid stevia.)
• Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 15 minutes.
• In each half-litre (US pint) jar put: 1 bay leaf, 1 peeled clove garlic, 1 teaspoon dill seed, 1 teaspoon mustard seed, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes per jar, 1/8th teaspoon pickle crisp. (Double all these measurements for litre / US quart jars.)
• Pack raw cucumber halves or quarters upright into the jars. Leave 2 cm (1/2 inch) headspace.
• Fill each jar with the vinegar mixture up to 2 cm (1/2 inch) from the top.
• If you are short of the vinegar mixture, top up the jars with either pure vinegar or a mixture of half vinegar / half water (do NOT use all water.) Bring your top up liquid to a quick boil in the microwave; mind the surge when removing.
• Debubble, adjust headspace.
• Wipe jar rims.
• Put lids on.
• Process in a water bath or steam canner.
• Process either size jar for 15 minutes; increase time as needed for your altitude.