Here's the recipe we used:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dill-Pickles/Detail.aspx

INGREDIENTS

• 8 pounds 3 to 4 inch long pickling cucumbers
• 4 cups white vinegar
• 12 cups water
• 2/3 cup pickling salt
• 16 cloves garlic, peeled and halved
• 8 sprigs fresh dill weed
• 8 heads fresh dill weed
• black peppercorns
• dried red pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Wash cucumbers, and place in the sink ( I use the bathtub!) with cold water and lots of ice cubes. Soak in ice water for at least 2 hours but no more than 8 hours. Refresh ice as required. Sterilize 8 (1 quart ) canning jars and lids in boiling water for at least 10 minutes.
2. In a large pot over medium-high heat, combine the vinegar, water, and pickling salt. Bring the brine to a rapid boil.
3. In each jar, place 2 half-cloves of garlic, one head of dill, then enough cucumbers to fill the jar (about 1 pound). Then add 2 more garlic halves, and 1 sprig of dill. Fill jars with hot brine. Seal jars, making sure you have cleaned the jar's rims of any residue.
4. Process sealed jars in a boiling water bath. Process quart jars for 15 minutes.
5. Store pickles for a minimum of 8 weeks before eating. Refrigerate after opening. Pickles will keep for up to 2 years if stored in a cool dry place.

Let me know if you want the recipe or want to hear how it turned out.  It has to sit for 10 days before it begins to be ready.

We also tried half-sours.
They have to sit out for a few days to ferment.  To keep them from floating above the surface, there is a baggie of brine sitting on top of the open jar.
Let me know if you want the recipe or want to hear how it turned out.  It has to sit for three days before it begins to be ready.

David seems to like these pickled beets.  (I think they are nasty, but I think most veggies are nasty.)
The beets are red and white rings that have faded to white and pink rings.
The thing you see at the top right is a cinnamon stick.
It's very humid today, and these just came out of the refrigerator - it's not a blurry picture - that's condensation.


Next we plan on making bread and butter pickles.
Come on back and see what's cooking.