Hot And Spicy Zucchini Pickles

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 4 lbs zucchini (no larger than 2-inch in diameter)
• 4 cups ice cubes
• 1/4 cup pickling salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 1/2 cups vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 6 long hot red oranges or 6 yellow chiles, peppers cut lengthwise into strips
• 6 bay leaves
• mustard seeds

Recipe

• 1 trim ends from zucchini and cut into 4 x 1/2 x 1/2" sticks, or the length that will fit in jars allowing for 1" headspace, discarding any pieces that are just the interior seed portion.
• 2 in a large non reactive bowl, layer zucchini, ice cubes and salt, using about 1/3 of each layer. add cold water to cover by about 1". place a plate on top to weigh down zucchini. cover and let stand at a cool room temperature for 3 hours.
• 3 meanwhile prepare jars, lids and bands.
• 4 in a colander, working in batches, drain zucchini well and set aside.
• 5 in a saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar and 2 cups water. bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often until sugar is dissolved. boil for 1 minute. reduce heat to low and keep liquid hot.
• 6 working with one jar at a time, pack zucchini and 1/6 of the hot pepper strips into each prepared jar, leaving 1" headspace.
• 7 add 1 bay leaf and 1/2 tsp mustard seeds. pour in hot pickling liquid, leaving a 1/2" headspace. check for air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed by adding more pickling liquid.
• 8 process jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. adjust time according to your altitude.