Super Easy Pickles

I can remember helping my mom make pickles when I was younger. I remember it as a rather time consuming process and so wasn't sure if I really wanted to tackle making pickles by myself. However, after picking several cucumbers from my little garden patch, and remembering that my boys have had homemeade pickles at other peoples' houses and liked them much better than store bought pickles, I decided to try it. I was excited to find packets of Ball Bread and Butter Pickle Mix at Kroger last week. I bought the smallest packet, which is enough for one batch (or 2 pints) of pickles. The directions on the packet list mixing the packet of mix with some vinegar and sugar and bringing to a boil, then pouring this mixture over a bowl of sliced cucumbers. After the cucumbers have cooled to room temperature, they can be packed into jars and refrigerated or processed in a water bath canner. That's it! I packed mine into freezer boxes and put them in the refrigerator. The pickles are supposed to set for 3 weeks before using and should last in the refrigerator for 3 months. I can remember my mom making freezer pickles, and so I may try putting one of the boxes in the freezer to see how it does. I did taste one of the pickles that fell on the counter as I was packing my boxes. Yum! I may have a hard time waiting three weeks to break open a box of pickles for supper. The mix also comes in packets that make larger batches of pickles or in a small jar for flexible batches (so you can use just the amount you need for the number of cucumbers you have). The little packet I bought was on sale for less than $1, but even at full price, the cost of the mix is much less than buying jars of store bought pickles, and homemade definately tastes better. I will probably be making more pickles very soon.