Dill Pickles

 I was given fresh cucumbers from my neighbor and fresh dill from another neighbor. I made my first pickles! Another neighbor said they were the best she's ever had in her life!

Yield:
Approx 6-8 quarts of pickles

Brine Ingredients:
8 1/2 c water
2 c vinegar
1/2 c pickling salt
2 tbsp sugar

Pickle Ingredients:
lots of cucumbers cut into rounds or spears
heads of dill
garlic
basil leaves
mint leaves
peppercorns

Directions:
1) Sanitize the number of jars you think you will need.
2) Prepare the brine by mixing the salt, sugar, vinegar, and water together. Make sure the salt and sugar dissolve.
3) Load jars with 2 heads of dill, one sliced clove of garlic, two basil leaves, two mint leaves, and a tsp of black peppercorns.
4) Stuff each jar full of cucumbers leaving a half-inch headspace.
5) Bring the brine to a boil. 

6) Add brine to each jar leaving a half inch of headspace. Make more brine as needed. 

7) Wipe the rim of each jar clean and close them finger-tight.

8) Hot-water bath the jars at a full boil for 15 minutes.

9) Remove jars from water bath and place on towel to finish sealing.