Recipe(tried): Crispie Pickles and Sweet Red Cucumber Rings

Here are two recipes that I have used for many years and are favorites. Hope someone will enjoy also.

Crispie Pickles
Soak 1/2 bushel medium whole cucumbers in brine made of 2 1/2 pound pickling salt in boiling water to cover. Let stand 24 hours. Lift out of brine and rinse. Cover with boiling water and let stand 24 hours. Boil 1 gallon 5% vinegar and 3 1/2 ounces pickling spice for 20 minutes. Pour over cucumbers. let stand 9 days. Remove from vinegar and slice cukes. Place in open jar or non aluminum container: put a layer of cukes, a layer of sugar, approximately equal amounts. Continue till cukes are all used. Layer of sugar should be on top. let stand until sugar is all dissolved which will take several days, depending upon temperature of room. Remove cukes and boil the liquid. Place cukes in jar and pour boiling liquid over them. Seal. This take quite a bit of time but the end result is certainly worth it.This is a good use for the cukes that you used picking for several days. Peel and slice into rings and then use a doughnut hole cutter to remove the seeds in each slice.

Sweet Red Cucumber Rings

8 quarts peeled and seeded large cucumber rings
8 quarts water
2 cups pickling lime
1 cup cider vinegar, 5%
1 bottle (1 1/2 ounce) red food coloring
Water

Mix water and lime. do not use aluminum container. Soak cucumber rings in lime mixture for 24 hours. Drain and rinse rings. Discard lime mixture. Soak cucumber rings in ice water for 3 hours. Drain cucumber rings. Place rings in vinegar and food coloring. Add water to cover. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 2 hours. Drain.

SYRUP
3 1/2 cups water
3 1/2 cups cider vinegar, 5%
10 cups sugar
8 sticks cinnamon
8 ounces red hot cinnamon candies

Combine water, vinegar, sugar, cinnamon and red hot candies; bring to a boil Pour syrup over cucumbers; let stand. Each for the next 3 days, drain off syrup and bring it to a boil. Pour syrup over cucumber rings; let stand. Do not boil rings, only the syrup. On the 4th day, prepare jars and lids. Remove cinnamon sticks; heat rings and syrup to boiling. Pack cucumber rings and syrup into hot juars. Leaving 1/4 inch head space. Remobe air bubble with a non metallice spatula. Wipe jar rims. Process pints and quarts for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. Yield about 7 quarts. This are best when served very cold. Most people will think they are apple rings.