Mom'S Pickled Beets - cooking recipe

Ingredients

4 cups beets
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
6 inches cinnamon sticks

Preparation

Sterilize jars.
Wash well and cook beets just until tender. Let cool and coarsely dice into rough 1 inch cubes or slices.
Mix sugar, water, vinegar salt and spices together and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for five minutes.
Place a 1/2 inch piece of cinnamon stick in each jar.
Fill with beets, leaving 1/2 inch space at the top. Poor hot brine over beets and seal.
Let sit for at least two weeks.
Note: Reserve the liquid from the beets and make my Old Fashion Beet Jelly Recipe (Recipe #469171) for a wonderful jelly for toast!