How to Make Pickles

Step 1: Homemade Pickling
Homemade pickling is easy to do -- just make a seasoned vinegar mixture or brine from water, vinegar, sugar, and your favorite spices and aromatics, then submerge vegetables such as pickles, cauliflower, onions, and carrots into the seasoned liquid. Here's my favorite recipe for spicy dill pickles.

Step 2: Boil
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a heavy medium saucepan. Add 1 3/4 cups of distilled white vinegar to the water.

Step 3: Sugar
Add 1/2 cup of sugar.

Step 4: Spice It
Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of coarse sea salt, 1 tablespoon of whole black peppercorns, 2 teaspoons of mustard seeds, and 2 teaspoons of fennel seeds. Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

Step 5: Spice It More
Fill each of three 1 1/2-pint wide-mouth jars with about 6 pickling cucumbers and 3 whole peeled garlic cloves. Cut one red jalapeno chile and divide it among the jars. Divide 3 tablespoons of coarsely chopped fresh dill and tarragon among the jars.

Step 6: Jar It
Pour the hot vinegar solution into the jars, dividing equally. Cover the jars with the lids and close tightly.

Step 7: Refridgerate
Refrigerate the pickles for at least 10 days and up to 1 month.

Items You'll Need for this GMC Trade Secret

• 1 3/4 cups Distilled White Vinegar
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Sea Salt
• 1 teaspoon Whole Black Peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons Mustard Seeds
• 2 teaspoons Fennel Seeds
• 1 red jalapeno chile
• 3 tablespoons Dill
• 3 tablespoons Tarragon
• 9 cloves Fresh Garlic