Bills Dills Recipes

HOW TO MAKE PERFECTLY CRUNCHY HOMEMADE DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Clean and prepare cucumbers. Wash off the debris and clean your cucumbers under cool running water. Once clean, cover with cool water and leave for an hour.
• Prepare 8 quart-sized mason jars, lids, and canner for processing. Start your water bath now so it is ready when it is time to process the jars.
• Add two whole garlic cloves, a sprig or two of fresh dill, 1 tsp peppercorns to the bottom of the mason jars along with 1/4 tsp of Pickle Crisp
• Prepare the brine. Add the water, vinegar, and salt to a large pot and bring to a rolling boil.
• Remove the blossom end from the cucumbers and begin filling the jars. You can add spears, or whole cucumbers, but keep them on the thick side. Do not make your spears too small.
• Pack the mason jars tight with your cucumbers leaving at least 1-inch headspace at the top.
• Ladle, or carefully pour the boiling brine over the top of the pickle jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Gently press a spatula against the pickles and down the inside of the jar to create a path for trapped air to escape. Repeat several times around the inside of the jar.
• Wipe the rims, add the lids and rings, and twist until finger tight.
• Process in a water bath for 15 minutes for quarts, 10 minutes for pints). Remove your jars from the water bath and set them aside where they will not be disturbed. Be sure to use a cutting board, trivet, or dishcloth underneath to protect your surface from the hot jars. For high altitude locations please check notes below for link with proper water bath timings.
• Leave to rest for 24 hours without disturbing.
• Check to ensure the jars sealed. They are good for up to a year in storage. If the lids did not seal, do not attempt to reseal. You can refrigerate any unsealed jars up to 4 weeks.

POP'S DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Place cucumbers in a large pot and cover with ice cubes. Let them sit for at least 2 hours but no more than 8. Drain and pat dry.
• Place the water, vinegar, sugar, pickling salt, and pickling spice into a saucepan. Bring to boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the cucumbers into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/2 inch of the top. Place 1 dill head and 1 clove of garlic into each jar. Pour the hot pickling liquid into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the rim. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 5 minutes, or the time recommended by your county Extension agent.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). If any jars have not sealed properly, refrigerate them and eat within two weeks. Store in a cool, dark area, and wait at least 1 week before opening.

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Bring the vinegar, 1 1/2 cups water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the salt is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Meanwhile, place the peppercorns, red pepper flakes, dill and garlic in a 1-quart Mason (or other glass) jar. Pack the cucumbers in the jar as tightly as possible.
• Pour the vinegar mixture over the cucumbers so the cucumbers are completely submerged. Leave uncovered and allow to cool to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 day before using. The pickles will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

UNCLE BILL'S MUSTARD PICKLES

Steps:

• Wash and finely chop cucumbers.
• Seed and dice sweet red and green peppers.
• Place chopped cucumbers and peppers in a large bowl.
• Sprinkle over with pickling salt, cover and let sit overnight.
• The next morning, drain off the liquid and discard.
• Finely chop cauliflower, onion and celery and mix in with the cucumbers and peppers.
• Transfer vegetables to a large cooking pot.
• Add vinegar and sugar and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are just tender, DO NOT OVERCOOK.
• In a small bowl, mix mustard and turmeric in a half cup of cold water.
• When vegetables are nearly done, mix in mustard mixture and stir until well blended and bring mixture back to just boil.
• Sterilize and prepare canning jars of your choice.
• Fill jars to within 1/4" of the top of the jars.
• Apply lids and screw tops and process according to the method you are most familiar with.
• When jars are sealed and cooled, label and store in a cool, dark place.

REFRIGERATOR DILL PICKLES

Steps:

• Stir water, vinegar, sugar, and sea salt together in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil; remove from heat and cool completely.
• Combine cucumber spears, garlic cloves, and fresh dill in a large glass or plastic container. Pour cooled vinegar mixture over cucumber mixture. Seal container with lid and refrigerate for at least 3 days.

BILL'S DILLS RECIPE

Steps:

• place dill and garlic in jar. Pack cucs flower end down and tight in jars. bring water, vinegar and salt to boiling, fill 1 jar and put lid and ring on immediately, skrew down tight. repeat