Best Sweetheart Slices Recipes

BEST EVER SWEET PICKLES

Best Ever Sweet Pickles image

I pack away homegrown cucumbers every summer. This recipe is based on the pickled veggies in Brown Eggs and Jam Jars by Aimee Wimbush-Bourque, but I've made it less mustardy and more garlicky to fit my family's tastes. This method keeps them incredibly, refreshingly crunchy. -Ellie Martin Cliffe, Taste of Home Digital Deputy Editor

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield 4 pints.

Number Of Ingredients 12

Ingredients

9 cups sliced pickling cucumbers
1 large sweet onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/4 cup canning salt
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons mustard seed
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon whole peppercorns
12 garlic cloves, crushed
4 bay leaves

Steps:

In a large nonreactive bowl, combine cucumbers, onion and salt. Cover with crushed ice and mix well. Let stand 3 hours. Drain; rinse and drain thoroughly., In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, water, vinegars, mustard seed, celery seed and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cucumber mixture; return to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 4-5 minutes or until heated through., Carefully ladle hot mixture into 4 hot wide-mouth 1-pint jars, leaving 1/2-in. headspace. Add 3 garlic cloves and 1 bay leaf to each jar. Remove air bubbles and, if necessary, adjust headspace by adding hot pickling liquid. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 35 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 175mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.

SWEETHEART COOKIES

Sweetheart Cookies image

These rounds filled with fruit preserves were blue-ribbon winners at the county fair two years running. A family favorite, they never last beyond December 25! —Pamela Esposito, Smithville, New Jersey

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Desserts

Time 40m

Yield 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 6

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 large egg yolk, room temperature
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons raspberry or strawberry preserves
Confectioners' sugar, optional

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolk; mix well. Stir in the flour by hand. On a lightly floured surface, gently knead dough for 2-3 minutes or until thoroughly combined. , Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Using the end of a wooden spoon handle, make an indention in the center of each. Fill each with 1/4 teaspoon preserves. , Bake for 13-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks. Dust warm cookies with confectioners' sugar if desired. Cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 102 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 23mg cholesterol, Sodium 46mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.