Our cucumber vines did not germinate well this year and we find that we only have one vine growing. This makes it difficult in trying to make a batch of pickles with brine. I have a dill pickle recipe that you can make a jar at a time and is very easy. This is for a quart jar. One Tablespoon of pickling salt, one bud of garlic, one small hot pepper, 1/4 of one green pepper, cucumbers (if small can be used whole or if larger, can be speared), top off with a head of dill and fill the jar with cold water. Screw down band on lid tightly and turn upside down for overnight. This is ready in three weeks, so the recipe says, but I find that 6 weeks is better. Hope your family likes them as well as mine. They are the first pickles gone off the relish tray.

-- Jean (kjean@i-rule.net), July 18, 2000

Answers

Where do you get pickling salt? And what kind of container does it come in? I looked high and low for some and finally just used regular salt because my cukes were ready and I had to make the pickles. I was doing sweet slices but seeing your recipe prompted me to ask this question. Thanks.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), July 21, 2000.

Colleen, I get mine at the grocery store in the spice section where the other salt is. It comes in both a bag and a box depending on brand. Marked "Pickling Salt" in big letters. Regular salt may discolor your product.

-- Peg (NW WI) (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), July 21, 2000.

Jean- you mean to say there's no vinegar?

-- Clare Baldwin (clare_baldwin@hotmail.com), July 21, 2000.

Sorry you are having a hard time finding pickling and canning salt. I have always been able to buy them in our grocery store. Yes, there is NO vinegar in the recipe. They taste quite like a kosher dill and the people that gave me the recipe years ago called them german dills. Like I said, I hope you all enjoy them.

-- Jean (kjean@i-rule.net), July 21, 2000.

If you can't find pickling salt in the spice section, check where they have canning supplies.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 22, 2000.