SS,
Here is the pickle recipe. Sorry I took so long but I had a thick week.
Sweet Pickles - slices
4 -5 pounds pickle cucumber
3 quarts water
1/2 cup kosher or pickling salt
7 cups cider vinegar
5 1/2 cups sugar
3 teaspoons mustard seed - yellow or brown
2 teaspoons celery seed
15 black pepercorns
6 or so pint jars and lids
Clean the cucumber and cut into slices as thick as you like your pickle slices. Some people discard the ends but I like them. Place the slices in a large crock or ceramic bowl.
In a pan on the stove heat the water until wartm and disolve the salt in it. When disolved pour over cucumber slices and palce a plate on top of them to wieght them down. Let them sit for about 4 hours.
Rince the cucmber thoroughly and allow to sit in cold water for about an hour.
While they are soaking take the vinegar, sugar, and the spices and heat it all up in a large pot (you will be adding all the cucumber to it soit needs to be pretty big.). Stir until the sugar is dissolved and continue to heat until boiling. Add the cucumber and continue cooking for another couple minutes and remove from heat.
Laddle the pickles into jars, I use pint jars or whatever I have that the canning lids fit on. Leave about 1/4 inch of air at the top. Laddle in any extra juice to cover the pickles. Wipe the top of jar and put on the lid. Heat finished jars in boiling water for about a half hour and remove, make sure the lids are tight and allow to cool and seal.
Crack open a nice pilsner and bask in the glory of your pickles. These are typically the pickles I use on my pulled pork sandwich unless my daughter gets into them and eats them. Either way they are pretty good.
Enjoy!