Bea and Bill’s Bread and Butter Pickles

Ingredients

• 16 cups thinly sliced cucumbers
• 8 white onions, sliced thinly
• 1/3 cup pickling salt
• 3 cloves garlic, halved
• Cracked ice, or as needed
• 4 cups white sugar
• 3 cups cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons mustard seed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground turmeric
• 1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
• 6 1-quart canning jars with lids and rings

Directions

Combine cucumbers, onions, pickling salt, and garlic in a large pot. Place enough cracked ice atop the cucumber mixture to cover by at least 2 inches.

Cover the pot with a lid and refrigerate 3 to 12 hours. Drain all liquid from the mixture. Discard any remaining pieces of ice. Remove the garlic and set aside.

Bring the sugar, vinegar, mustard seed, turmeric, and celery seed to a boil in a separate large saucepan, stirring frequently. Add the cucumber and onion mixture; return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook at a simmer until cucumbers and onion are soft, 5 to 10 minutes.

Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the cucumber and onion mixture into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/2 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.

Place jars in a canning pot with at least an inch of water covering all of the jars and boil for 10 minutes.

Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). If you have a can that does not seal, just stick it in the fridge and eat that jar first. Store in a cool, dark area, and wait at least 3 hours before opening.