Sweet & Sour Pickles

Pickles

3½ lbs 2½ inch cucumbers (about 50)
½ cup pickling salt
4 cups water

Syrup

6 cups cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
1 tbs mixed pickling spices
2 cups water

Wash cucumbers. Dissolve salt in 4 cups boiling water. In large bowl, pour brine over cucumbers. Let stand in brine til cold. Drain.

Combine vinegar, sugar, pickling spices, and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Pour over pickles. Let stand for 24 hours.

Bring pickles and syrup to a boil. Put in hot jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath, 5 minutes.