Cucumber Lime Pickles - cooking recipe

Ingredients

7 lbs cucumbers, sliced lengthwise
2 cups pickling lime
2 gallons water
2 quarts vinegar
8 cups sugar
1 tablespoon salt
3 drops green food coloring (optional)
Make a syrup
2 quarts vinegar
8 cups sugar
1 tablespoon salt

Preparation

Soak the cucumbers lime and water in enamel or crockery for 24 hours, stirring occasionally.
(Do not use Aluminum Ware).
Remove from lime water and rinse in 3 cool waters.
Soak 3 additional hours in ice and water.
Remove carefully to drain.
Mix syrup ingredients and stir until dissolved.
Pour over the cucumbers.
Let set 5 or 6 hours or overnight.
Add pickling spices to taste.
(Use whole cloves or allspice).
Boil mixture for 35 minutes.
Fill sterilized jars with cucumber slices and pour syrup over cucumbers leaving 0.125 inch head space.
Seal jars.
If syrup does not cover cucumbers while boiling, mix partial recipe of syrup and add it.