4 lbs cucumbers
2 cloves of garlic for each jar (peeled)
1 or 2 fresh sprigs of dill for each jar
4 or 5 black peppercorns for each jar
1 grape leaf for each jar
1 small fresh hot red cayenne pepper for each jar (optional)
2 quarts of water
2 quarts of white vinegar
scant 1/2 c. canning salt
Soak freshly picked cucumbers in a tub of ice water overnight. (Do not use old cucumbers or the pickles will be rubbery). Wipe the pickles dry. Pack sterilized jars with several sprigs of dill, grape leaf, one clove of garlic at the top and bottom and the cucumbers.
Boil the 2 quarts water, 2 quarts vinegar and scant 1/2 cup salt for 5 minutes. Pour the boiling brine over the cucumbers and adjust 2 piece canning lids. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Wait for about 3 weeks before using to allow the pickles to mellow.
10 lbs of cukes yielded 12 1-quart jars (20 lbs yielded lots of snacking cukes as well!)
from cooks.com; we labeled it "Pickle Recipe #1"