Procedure: Wash cucumbers. Cut 1/16-inch slice off blossom end and discard, but leave 1/4-inch of stem attached. Dissolve 3/4 cup salt in 2 gals water. Pour over cucumbers and let stand 12 hours. Drain. Combine vinegar, 1/2 cup salt, sugar and 2 quarts water. Add mixed pickling spices tied in a clean white cloth. Heat to boiling. Fill jars with cucumbers. Add 1 tsp mustard seed and 1-1/2 heads fresh dill per pint. Cover with boiling pickling solution, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Adjust lids and process according to the recommendations in Table 1 or use the low-temperature pasteurization treatment. (For more information see "Low-Temperature Pasteurization Treatment".)

Table 1. Recommended process time for Quick Fresh-Pack Dill Pickles in a boiling-water canner.

Style of Pack: Raw. Jar Size: Pints. Process Time at Altitudes of 0 - 1, 000 ft: 10 min.

1, 001 - 6, 000 ft: 15 min.

Above 6, 000 ft: 20 min.

Style of Pack: Raw. Jar Size: Quarts. Process Time at Altitudes of 0 - 1, 000 ft: 15 min.

1, 001 - 6, 000 ft: 20 min.

Above 6, 000 ft: 25 min.

======================================================= === * Usda

courtesy of Karen Mintzias