Hot-Sweet Cucumber Lime Pickles - 3 Day - cooking recipe

Ingredients

SOAKING SOLUTION
1 gallon water
7 1/2 lbs sliced cucumbers
1 cup pickling lime
PICKLING SOLUTION
2 quarts white vinegar (distilled) or 2 quarts apple cider vinegar (5% acidity)
4 1/2 lbs granulated sugar (9 cups)
3/8 ounce pickling spices
1 tablespoon salt (not iodized)

Preparation

DAY 1: Soak cucumbers in Soaking Solution of lime and water for 24 hours, making sure all cucumber slices are covered.
Place a plate on top and weight it with a heavy, clean object, such as a gallon of water.
DAY 2: Remove cucumbers, wash well until water runs clear.
Soak in clear water for 3 hours.
Drain cucumbers and wash again.
Place cucumbers in the Pickling Solution and leave overnight.
DAY 3: After soaking cucumbers in the Pickling solution overnight, pour the pickling solution (reserving the cucumbers) into a very large pot.
Bring to a boil.
Add cucumbers and bring to a boil again.
Boil 35 minutes.
Seal in hot, sterilized, pint or quart canning jars.
Let jars cool and dry.
Label and store.
Chill before serving.
HOUSE SPECIALTY APPETIZERS: Serve chilled, drained pickles slices in a small bowl.
Surround with bowls of thinly sliced summer sausage, crackers, and thinly sliced cheeses (cheddar, swiss, havarti, etc).
To assemble, place summer sausage, pickle slice, and cheese on top of each cracker.
Enjoy!