Sunday, July 25, 2010

Green Tomato Pickles

I just started a batch of Green Tomato Pickles, using the following recipe from Cooks.com. My nascent Pickles are even now "setting overnight."
Photo courtesy of Mac & Cheese

I have never in my life made Pickles, so we shall see if I am a good Pickle-maker shortly.
Marie's Green Tomato Pickles
1 big pot
Slice green tomatoes and onions; place in layers. Sprinkle canning salt on each layer, 1/2 cup for whole pot. Set overnight.
2 qt. apple cider vinegar
4 lbs. light brown sugar
Bring vinegar and sugar to boil. Drain off tomatoes and onions. When brown sugar and vinegar comes to a boil, pour into tomatoes and onions. Put 2 tablespoons of mixed pickling spice (recipe below) in cheese cloth. Boil 1/2 to 1 hour.
Homemade Mixed Pickling Spice

4 cinnamon sticks, 3" long
1 dried ginger root, 1" long
2 tsp. yellow mustard seed
2 tsp. whole allspice
1 whole red pepper, 1 1/2" long, chopped med. fine
2 tsp. whole black pepper (peppercorns)
2 tsp. whole cloves
2 tsp. dill seed
2 tsp. coriander seed
2 tsp. whole mace, crumbled fine
8 bay leaves, crumbled fine
In a clean cloth pound the cinnamon sticks and ginger root until finely crumbled. Discard stringy portion of ginger root. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Store in container with tight fitting lid. Makes 2/3 cup.