Sliced, Spiced And Iced Refrigerator Sweet Dill Pickles

Total Time: 168 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 168 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 lbs small pickling cucumbers, sliced 1/4-1/2-inch thick (or regular cucumbers-may cut into spears also)
• 4 garlic cloves, sliced
• 4 sprigs fresh dill (optional)
• 2 cups cold water
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon dill seed
• 2 cups distilled vinegar
• 1 cup sugar (or 1 1/2 cups depending on sweetness you desire)
• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less depending on heat level you desire)
• 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorn (optional)

Recipe

• 1 evenly divide the garlic, fresh dill and sliced cucumbers among four wide mouthed pint jars.
• 2 before adding the mustard seed, red pepper flakes, peppercorns(if using) and dill seed, crush them slightly. you can use your hands, a mortar and pestle, or give then one quick whiz in the food processor(optional).
• 3 in a saucepan, mix together vinegar, water, sugar, red pepper flakes, celery seed, salt, mustard seed and dill seed. heat to just dissolve sugar, then remove and let cool. use a funnel to fill each jar with the cooled brining liquid. the spices may float to the bottom, so use a spoon to evenly divide anything that is leftover into the jars. cap tightly and refrigerate at least one week before eating. enjoy!
• 4 it was suggested you do this over a large bowl. the cucumbers start to float and displace liquid. add the overflow back into the brining mixture before you fill up the next jar. no mess! :).