Cucumber Lime Pickles

Photo: flickr user sleepyneko

Ingredients

7 pounds cucumbers, sliced

1 cup mrs. wages pickling lime

2 gallons water

8 cups distilled white vinegar, 5%% acidity

8 cups sugar

1 tablespoon salt

2 teaspoons mixed pickling spices

1 ounce bottle green food coloring, it may not take that much, but you want them a very dark

Preparation

Soak clean cucumbers in water and lime mixture in crockery or enamel ware for 2 hours or overnight. Do not use aluminum ware.

Remove sliced cucumbers from lime water. Discard lime water. Rinse 3 times in fresh cold water. Soak 3 hours in ice water.

Combine vinegar, sugar, salt and mixed pickling spices in a large pot. Bring to a low boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove syrup from heat ad add sliced cucumbers. Soak 5-6 hours or overnight.

Boil slices in the syrup 35 minutes. Fill sterilized jars with hot slices. Pour hot syrup over the slices, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Cap each jar when filled.