Mama's Candied Dill Pickles!

 

Mama has been making these "Candied Dill Pickles" for several years now and they have become really popular with all of her friends and family!    These turn regular store bought dill pickles into the most amazing sweet pickles ever and you won't believe how easy this is!!!

This is a pickle recipe anybody can make no matter your level of expertise in the kitchen.  The recipe is only three ingredients!  The main thing in making these successfully, is just following the recipe exactly!   

Here is what you need:

1 gallon whole dill pickles (preferably Vlasic or the best brand you can buy in your area)

7 cups sugar

1 cup apple cider vinegar

Drain all of the liquid off of a gallon of whole dill pickles.  We find that Vlasic pickles work best for this, but if you don't have access to them where you live, use the best dill pickles you do have access to.   Fill the jar with water to the top and place them in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours.  If they are in there longer that's fine also.

Drain all of the water off the pickles.

Slice the pickles in thick, about 1/4 inch, slices.  These are best if you don't slice them too thin. Place the slices in a large mixing bowl.

Pour 7 cups of sugar over the slices.

Pour 1 cup apple cider vinegar over the sugar.

With a large spoon, toss the pickle slices with the sugar and vinegar until the sugar is all dissolved and becomes liquid.   This takes some time.  You can let this sit for about an hour and then toss to aid in the sugar breaking down.  

When the sugar is dissolved, place the pickles in jars.  This will make 6 pints or 3 quarts of pickles.  Leave the jar out on the counter for 3-4 hours or until the liquid is clear and not at all cloudy.  If you need to turn the jar upside down to be sure there is no granulated sugar in the bottom.  

Place in the refrigerator for at least 48 hours! 

After 48 hours they are ready to serve!!!  Keep the jars of pickles refrigerated until you serve them.  Believe me, they will disappear fast!!! 

Mississippi Comeback Sauce!

 "Mississippi Comeback Sauce" is a zesty dipping sauce that is great with fried foods, with seafood, on sandwiches or even as a salad dressing.  I paired it here with Fried Green Tomatoes!   It would also be great with Fried Squash,  Fried Okra, or even for dipping your Fried Dill Pickles in!  It's also great for dipping your chicken fingers or shrimp in or think of it as your own 'special sauce' for your burgers or sandwiches!

This sauce originated at a Greek restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi called The Rotisserie.  I think it was their house dressing.  It became so popular other restaurants in the city started making their own version of it.  It's easy to whip up and you can keep it refrigerated for using for several days.  Here is what you will need:

2 Tbs. grated onion

1 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup chili sauce (I actually used a sriracha ketchup made by the Red Gold company)

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 Tbs. Worcestershire sauce

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. seasoned salt

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

pinch of cayenne or to your taste

dash of hot sauce to taste (I used Tabasco sauce)

1 Tbs. lemon juice

Grate the onion as fine as possible or process it in a food processor.  I grate it with my finest grater and it is just onion juice when I am finished so you don't hunks of it in the sauce.   Place the onion and all of the other ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk it until it's smooth.   Taste it for your own taste preference.  You can spice it up or down to your liking.  You know I like spicy so I used both a little cayenne and some hot sauce, but you could make it milder. 



Pour it up in a mason jar and chill in the fridge until you are ready to use it!

This sauce is so good and really enhances whatever you use it on!  It's really similar to a remoulade sauce, but this is smoother and has a little more spice!







Fresh Pico de Gallo!

I love this "Fresh Pico de Gallo" with any type of Mexican food!  I also use it for a dip with tortilla chips!  This is so easy to make and so much better than anything you can buy!  It adds some pretty color to any dish and it's even low fat, which doesn't always happen on my site! Top your tacos with it, add it to your fajitas, top a taco salad, or serve with your enchiladas!   

 Here is what you will need:

3 ripe tomatoes, diced and seeded

1/2 cup sweet onion, diced (I used Vidalia)

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced fine

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped fine

juice of 1 lime

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Dice and chop all of the ingredients in a fairly small dice.  This needs to be chunkier than salsa, but finer than vegetables for a salad.  Place in a bowl and sprinkle with salt and garlic powder.  Squeeze the lime juice over all and lightly toss.  Cover and chill in the fridge for about an hour.  Toss again before serving.  It's good to give this about an hour to sit so the flavor blend and marry. 

Serve with tortilla chips or as a garnish for all of your favorite Mexican dishes!  It's so delicious and fresh tasting, I can eat it by itself!