It's very simple. I don't know about the cucumber to pickle part. I just buy the cheapest pickles and slice them myself. But once they're pickles, just use Tabasco sauce and sugar!

Using sliced pickles pour off and discard the juice,then layer pickles, sprinkle tabasco sauce and sugar--keep layering til jar full. Marinate in refrigerator. I just turn the jar upside down over and over for several hours until the pickles are evenly soaked. It begins to make it's own fluid.

Of course they continue to marinate on their own. It's a preference of how hot/sweet you want. I just shake the Tabasco jar, oh say, 5 times on each layer and cover with a thin layer of sugar.

It's a great compliment to meat and even better on turkey sandwiches!

Hope you like it.