Red Hot Cucumber Pickles

Photo: flickr user Leeks 'N' Bounds

Ingredients

2 gal. lg. cucumbers

2 cups pickling lime

Water

1 cup vinegar

1 tablespoon alum from drugstore

1 bottle red food coloring

2 cups vinegar

5 lbs. sugar

1 lg. pkg. red hot candy

8 cinnamon sticks

Preparation

Peel, quarter and seed cucumbers. Need 2 gallons of cucumbers after peeling. Cut into strips about the size of French fries. Soak 24 hours in pickling lime with enough water to cover cucumbers. Drain and wash well.

Add 1 cup vinegar, alum, food coloring and enough water to cover. Simmer 2 hours and then drain well. Add 2 cups vinegar, 4 cups water, sugar, candy and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil. Remove from stove. Let sit 24 hours. Bring back to a boil. Remove from stove. Let sit another 24 hours. Bring to a boil. Put in hot sterilized jars. Makes 10-12 pints. This makes wonderful Christmas gifts.