Well we harvested our beets and decided to pickle them with onions. Simple recipe as we don't like adding cinnamon, nutmeg and all that other stuff. We ended up with 6 pints. Only one crappy picture, if you've worked with beets you'd know why! Nitrale gloves are a must. Here's the recipe. (note this is good foor up to about 8 pounds of beets,. I probably had 5)
Take your beets and trim the top off (save greens to steam, they are tasty with salt and butter and grits!) Leave about 1" of the stems on the beet.
Put into a large pot cover with water. Bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Simmer until all beets are fork tender. Remove from heat drain and rinse. Some shock in cold ice water bath.
Slip skins off. Wearing rubber gloves (i use Nitrale blue gloves from Harbor Freight) rub the skins off. I usually do this under cold running water and into the garbage disposal.
Slice (quarter, chunk, julienne, however you like) thinly.
Thinly slice 4-6 onions. I do this while the beets are cooking.
Brine:
4 cups 5% vinegar
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
other spices that you want. We just did about 3 tablespoons black pepper corns.
Bring to boil reduce to simmer add beets and onions. Simmer 5 mins.
Tightly Pack into jars top with brine mixture. Clean jar rims. Add lids and rings hand tighten. Process in water bath, time varies per your elevation. Let rest for at least 4 weeks prior to trying. If you have left over brine its good to throw some hard boiled eggs into and put in the fridge.
Take your beets and trim the top off (save greens to steam, they are tasty with salt and butter and grits!) Leave about 1" of the stems on the beet.
Put into a large pot cover with water. Bring to boil and reduce to simmer. Simmer until all beets are fork tender. Remove from heat drain and rinse. Some shock in cold ice water bath.
Slip skins off. Wearing rubber gloves (i use Nitrale blue gloves from Harbor Freight) rub the skins off. I usually do this under cold running water and into the garbage disposal.
Slice (quarter, chunk, julienne, however you like) thinly.
Thinly slice 4-6 onions. I do this while the beets are cooking.
Brine:
4 cups 5% vinegar
2 cups water
2 cups sugar
other spices that you want. We just did about 3 tablespoons black pepper corns.
Bring to boil reduce to simmer add beets and onions. Simmer 5 mins.
Tightly Pack into jars top with brine mixture. Clean jar rims. Add lids and rings hand tighten. Process in water bath, time varies per your elevation. Let rest for at least 4 weeks prior to trying. If you have left over brine its good to throw some hard boiled eggs into and put in the fridge.
