Your memory is correct; they ARE made with red hots!
CHRISTMAS PICKLES
Recipe By :
Serving Size : 8 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Holidays
Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ ------------------------------
-----SOAKING SOLUTION-----
9 Large cucumbers -- (8 to 10)
2 c Pickling lime
2 ga Water
-----BOILING SOLUTION-----
1 c Vinegar
1 Bottle Red Food Coloring
(Shilling's is prettiest)
1 tb Alum
-----SYRUP-----
2 c Vinegar
10 c Sugar -- (5 pounds)
2 c Water
14 oz Red hots -- (12-14 oz.)
8 Cinnamon sticks -- l per jar
2 ts Salt
8 pt Canning jars
1. Peel and remove seeds from 8 to 10 large cucumbers. Seeds can be
removed with an apple corer. Slice into 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide rings. Soak
overnight in lime and water in a porcelain container (use non-aluminum).
2. Wash, drain; soak in clear water and covered with ice cubes for 3
hours. Drain.
3. Put in large pot. Cover with water and other ingredients for the
boiling solution. Boil for 1 hour; then drain.
4. Make syrup and bring to boil to
dissolve sugar. Use one cinnamon stick for each jar you think you will
have. Pour syrup over cucumbers and let stand overnight.
5. Drain syrup from cucumbers into separate pan and bring to a boil.
Pour back over cucumbers. After cool, cover with Saran wrap.
6. Repeat step 5 for 3 days.
7. On the fourth morning, heat syrup again. While heating, pack
cucumbers in sterilized pint jars (larger jars can be used) with
cinnamon stick. Pour heated juice into jars to fill up almost to top. If
you don't have enough, make more juice of water and red food coloring.
Seal jars. Putting in water bath is optional.
"I've been lurking for a few days, and I thought if anyone could help
me, it would be someone here. When I was very young, between 5 and 7, my
babysitter would feed me these pickles she had made. I remember asking
for them first thing every time I stayed there. She has long since
passed away, and only one person I've asked has known what I'm talking
about, but she didn't know how to make them. I know she used food
coloring in them as they were either bright red or bright green...she
may have called them christmas pickles. They were sliced about as big as
silver dollars and they had a very sweet, very tangy taste.....so tangy,
if you ate too many, your tongue would start to burn. Some one told me
they had heard they were made with "red hots" candies, but it may have
just been plain cinnamon. They were in a syrup the consistancy of nectar
or maybe a little thicker, and they were very crisp. Has anyone ever had
these? I would love to be able to make them. I've enjoyed reading your
posts. Thanks for the ideas!
~North"
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