Cucumber Pickle

A friend recently told me about a fruit and veg wholesalers in town that also sell a little bit of retail to the public. Their regular prices are more expensive than most fruit and veg shops and definitely more than the markets. They do however do 'throw out' boxes of produce that is getting close to being unsellable, bruised or just doesn't look quite right. These boxes are really cheap and earlier this week I picked up two, one was $3 and the other was $4! They were full of lovely produce and it's really forced me to think of some different ways to use it all up so it doesn't go to waste. At the moment we've got a crisper drawer full of apples! Apple crumble anyone?

In one of the boxes were three cucumbers and we're not big salad eaters. The boys would much rather have a plate of vegies than a plate of salad! I just knew we wouldn't eat three cucumbers so instead of them going squishy in the bottom of the fridge I thought I'd have a go at making cucumber pickle! It turned out to be really easy, just a bit dangerous with kids around cause there is hot liquids and hot bottles involved, but the boys were playing happily on the verandah for that bit thank goodness! I was getting the DVD player all warmed up!

Cucumber Pickle

3-4 large green cucumbers, unpeeled, thinly sliced

3 large onion, thinly sliced

3/4 cup salt

1 cup water

3 cups vinegar

2 1/2 cups sugar

sprinkle of pickling spices

Layer the sliced cucumber and onion in a bowl, sprinkling the layers with salt.

Leave to stand for 3 hours.

Bring remaining ingredients to the boil, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil for three minutes .

Drain cucumbers and onions and add to pickling liquid. Bring near to boil but do not boil.

Bottle into hot, sterilised jars and seal.

Recipe from NMAA Cookbook, one of my favourite recipe books!