#3867 - Pickled Green Beans

(by Shirley McNevich)

3lbs. fresh green beans
3/4 cup white sugar
3 garlic cloves (halved)
2 tsp. dill seeds
2 tsp. mustard seeds
1 1/2 cups cider vinegar
1/2 cup fresh dill (chopped)
3 tsp. salt
water (see directions)

Snip off the ends of the green beans. Cut the green beans into 2" pieces. Fill a large pot with 5 quarts of water and 1 tsp. salt--bring to a boil. Add the cut green beans--cook/stir about 7 minutes or until green beans are tender but still crisp. Drain the green beans and rinse them with cold water and drain again--set aside. In a saucepan add the white sugar, garlic cloves, dill seeds, mustard seeds, 1/2 cup cider vinegar, 2 tsp. salt and 1/2 cup water--stir to mix. Turn heat to medium--cook/stir until boiling. Once boiling, cook/stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat--add 1 1/2 cups cold water and 1 cup cider vinegar--stir well. Place drained green beans into a large Ziploc bag. Carefully pour the vinegar mixture into the bag over the beans. Press the bag closed while carefully pressing out as much air as you can. Place the bag in a bowl and refrigerate at least 1 day. When ready to serve, drain/discard the liquid, place the beans in a serving dish and add the chopped dill--toss to coat.