Christmas Red Pickles

Ingredients and Weight:

• 1 pound Kirby cucumbers, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
• 1 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon pickling spice
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 bay leaf

Preparation Time:

15 minutes

Cooking Time:

10 minutes

Difficulty Level:

2 (Simple)

Preparation Method Steps:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, sugar, water, pickling spice, salt, crushed red pepper flakes, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened slightly.
3. Place the cucumber slices in a heatproof bowl or container. Pour the hot vinegar mixture over the cucumbers and stir to coat.
4. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to overnight.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 80 (per serving)
• Carbohydrates: 18 grams
• Sugar: 15 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Protein: 1 gram

Dish Characteristics:

• Sweet and tangy with a hint of heat
• Bright red color, perfect for Christmas
• Crisp and refreshing texture

User Comments:

• "These pickles are the perfect addition to my holiday charcuterie board."
• "I love the sweet and spicy flavor. They're so addictive!"
• "These are the best Christmas pickles I've ever had. They're so easy to make too."

Special Precautions and Tips:

• Wear gloves when handling the crushed red pepper flakes to avoid skin irritation.
• If you don't have pickling spice, you can use a combination of mustard seeds, coriander seeds, and allspice berries.
• The pickles will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.