PEPPERED GARLIC DILL PICKLES

Peppered Garlic Dill Pickles image

Provided by Donna Young

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 11

3 Tbsp pickling spice
6 c white or cider vinegar (5% min)
6 c water
1 c raw brown sugar
2/3 c pickling or canning salt (kosher salt can be used)
6 bay leaves
1-1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns
6 clove fresh garlic
3 tsp mustard seeds
12 heads (sprigs) fresh dill
12-13-1/2 c washed, sliced, trimmed pickling cucumbers (1/4" thick slices)

Steps:

1. Prepare canner, jars, and lids
2. Tie pickling spice in a square of cheesecloth to create spice bag.
3. In large stainless steel saucepan, combine vinegar, water, sugar, pickling salt, and spice bag. Bring to boil over med-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar and salt. Reduce heat and boil gently for 15 minutes, until spices have infused liquid.
4. Place 1 bay leaf, 1/4 tsp. black peppercorns, 1 clove garlic, 1/2 tsp. mustard seeds, and 2 heads of dill into each jar. Pack cucumber slices into hot jars to within a generous 1/2" of top of jar. Ladel hot pickling liquid into jar to cover cucumbers, leaving 1/2" headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary by adding hot liquid. Wipe rims. Center lid on jar. Screw band down until resistence is met, then increase to finger-tip tight.
5. Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 15 minutes. Turn off and remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool and store.