Sweet Pickles(9 Day Method) - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 bushel medium washed cucumbers
2 gal. water
5 lb. sugar
1 gal. vinegar
2 1/2 lb. pickling salt
2 (2.25 oz.) pkg. powdered alum
1 box pickling spices

Preparation

Mix salt and water to make a brine thick enough to float an egg.
Soak cucumbers in water 3 days.
Be sure all cucumbers are covered.
Remove from salt water and soak overnight in clear water.
Take from clear water and put into alum water (made by mixing 2 boxes alum with 2 gallons of water).
Leave 2 days. Remove cucumbers and slice.
Pour vinegar over and add 2 pounds of sugar and pickling spice in cloth bag.
Heat but do not boil; let set overnite.
Next day, add 1 1/2 pounds of sugar; heat again. On the 3rd day, add 1 1/2 pounds sugar.
Heat and remove spice bag.
Pack pickles into jars and cover with hot vinegar liquid. Seal jars.
Makes about 8 quarts.