In article . com>,
Karen > wrote:

> On Jul 15, 10:30 pm, notbob > wrote:
> > On 2007-07-16, Melba's Jammin' > wrote:
> >
> > > them in the washing machine along with the little cukes that are now
> > > All you pickled beet freaks, what's the texture of the beet supposed to
> > > be?
> >
> > OK, who are you and what have you done with our beloved Melba!? :|
>
> ha! I was wondering that myself.
>
> Pickled beets are so good on a rye crisp and liver pate, I think it's
> the ultimate.

Sounds like the ultimate to me, too. Not in a good way.

>
> Fork tender is my vote, btw. I wish I knew how to make them like you
> do...!!!
>
> Karen

What part are you struggling with, Karen? Here's the recipe I was sort
of following:

Pickled Boiled Dirt Chunks 2007
Barb Schaller adapted from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

3 tbsp mixed pickling spices
2-1/2 cups vinegar
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
10 cups prepared beets (I had about 2 quarts)

(I added about 6 whole cloves and a broken up short stick of cinnamon to
the mixture, too. What the heck.)

Put the spices into a spice bag. (More about that later.) Bring to
boil then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes to "infuse the
vinegar". Add cooked and peeled beets to the mixture, heat through,
jar, cover, and process in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes. Use a
slotted spoon to fill the jars, then pour the boiling syrup over.

Here's the deal: You don't *have* to process these things if you just
put them in a clean jar and stick them in the fridge. I'm willing to
say they will last for-nearly-ever in the fridge. Just to contain the
spit-on-the-fork-causes-spoilage factor, put them into more than one jar
-- pint size is probably good. I had about 35 golf ball-ish size cooked
beets that I'd quartered.

About the spice bag (I used cheesecloth). If I were to do this again, I
wouldn't bother with the bag but would strain the liquid to remove the
spices before adding the beets to the liquid to heat.
--
-Barb, Mother Superior, HOSSSPoJ
http://www.jamlady.eboard.com - story and
pics of Ronald McDonald House dinner posted 6-24-2007