grandmother's mustard pickles

ingredients

• servings: 5
• 2 pounds small pickling cucumbers, cut into slices or chunks
• 8 cups pearl onions, peeled
• 1 head cauliflower, broken into florets
• 4 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup coarse salt
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 tablespoons dry mustard powder
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground dried turmeric
• 8 cups apple vinegar

recipe

cook time: 30 mins ready time: 1 hr 30 mins


• in a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, onions, cauliflower and bell pepper. stir together the salt and water; pour over the vegetables. cover, and let stand overnight at room temperature.
• sterilize 5 (1 quart) jars with lids and rings. keep in a hot water bath until needed.
• transfer the vegetables and brine to a large pot and set over medium heat. bring just to a simmer, but remove from the heat before they come to a boil. pour into a colander and drain thoroughly.
• dry out the large pot and stir together the flour, mustard powder, sugar and turmeric in it. stir in just enough apple vinegar to make a smooth paste, then stir in the remaining vinegar. bring to a boil, stirring frequently, and boil until thick and creamy, 10 to 15 minutes. add the vegetables and simmer over medium heat until vegetables are tender but not overcooked, 5 to 10 minutes.
• pack into hot 1 quart jars, filling to 1/2 inch of the rim. seal with lids and rings. process in a bath of simmering water for 10 minutes, then cool to room temperature. refrigerate any jars that do not seal properly and consume within two weeks.