Anybody make dilly beans?

[Dinghy]

I made dilly beans for the first time tonight. My Mom used to make them, but I never saw her recipe. I used the one out of the Ball Blue book and I've looked at a few others. Which type of vinegar is better to use, cider or white? I used cider and it makes them look so dark. I don't like any vinegar, but I thought cider might taste better. Now I wish I would have used white, just for looks. I thought I'd ask you ladies, in case I ever want to make them again. I only made them to see if my Granddaughter would like them because she loves dill pickles.

 

[Laurie the Mom]

I make them every year but I've never used cider vinegar, just white. I think the cider vinegar would definitely make them taste different. Hmm...gonna have to try it just to see how they turn out!

Laurie

 

[WalknTrot]

I make them too, but always use white vinegar. Actually, my favorite is to skip the beans and make dilly's with chunks of broccoli and cauliflower using the same "juice" recipe. Very Good!

Asparagus works well, also.

 

[Tweakette]

I've made them before, the results of one recipe I posted about in the "Worst thing you ever canned" thread . I don't remember if the good recipe I ended up with used cider or white, I think it was white.

Tweak

 

[Mushroom]

I make dilly beans out of necessity. I am allergic to cucumbers. I always use white vinegar as I am also allergic to apples. It isn't easy being me. Using the huge end slices of carrots makes good dills also. I like to use them on hamburgers as well as in tuna salad. FWIW, my 2 cents.

Mushroom

 

[Dinghy]

Thanks for the input. I looked at some recipes on the internet last night, and they all used white vinegar too. Oh boy!! I'm sure they will be alright, but they don't look as nice and clear as they would with white. I'm allergic to apples too and anything that has fruit mold, so I shouldn't eat them, but I will at least try them once. If I have enough tomatoes, I'm going to try and make V-8 juice today. Maybe I'll have better luck with that!!!

 

[WalknTrot]

Hi Dinghy,

I forgot to add that they should taste just fine with the cider vinegar. A friend of mine makes them that way all the time. Also I second Mushrooms idea using carrots in the same brine recipe. Very good !

 

[Deemy]

LOL, I've made them for thirty years and have only used cider vinegar! Go tell....

 

[Dinghy]

Well, now I don't feel so bad. If some of you have used cider vinegar then it must be ok. I figured it was probably a matter of preference, but since I hate any vinegar I had trouble deciding. I guessed that I hated cider the least and I had more of that any way, so that's what I ended up with. I just hope somebody eats them after all the aggrevation! I really wanted tomatoes, but the farmer's stand didn't have bushels yet, so I just grabbed the beans on a whim. Something my mom had made and I guess nastalgia kicked in. I had my mind made up to can something since I had a 3 day weekend! I ended up making V-8 juice with my small amount of ripe tomatoes today. It turned out pretty tastey, but I only got 2 quarts out of all that work. At least I know I like it and might make more if I can get a bushel or two soon. I've been wanting to make it for at least a couple years, but hadn't gotten around to it. The guy we usually buy our bushels from hurt his neck and hasn't been to work, so I don't know if we'll be able to get any from him this year. Don't even know if he has any with as lousy as everybody's are this year. My husband is supposed to eat a lot of tomatoes because of the cancer he had, but the store bought V-8 has so much sodium that he'll only drink it once in awhile. The recipe I have doesn't use any salt at all, but I added a wee little bit.
I'm noticing a few typos here and there. Pardon, but I have been sampling my homemade blackberry wine tonight!! Only takes sniffing the cap for me, Hee, Hee!!