For all you gardeners, this is might be my most favorite recipe of all. I actually let some cukes go so I can make these every year.

Cucumer Spice Rings (can't tell they are not spiced apple rings)

2 gal. yellow cucumbers (doesn't matter how big they are)
2 cups pickling lime
3 cups cider vinegar
1 tsp Alum
1 bottle Red Food coloring
10 cups sugar
8 sticks cinnamon
2 packages (small) Red Hot Candy

Peel cukes and cut in half crosswise (or smaller sections if they are really large). Remove seeds with serrated spoon from each end then cut crosswise to resemble apple rings. Approx 1/4 inch thick.

Soak for 24 hours in 2 cups pickling lime and water to cover in crock or plastic bucket. Then drain and rinse.

Then simmer 1 1/2 hours in 1 cup vinegar, 1 tsp alum and 1 small bottle of red food coloring and water to cover. Then drain and rinse well in cold water.

Mix 2 cups vinegar, 10 cups sugar and 8 cinnamon sticks ( can use 4 tps ground cinnamon instead). Bring mixture to a boil and add 2 pkgs of Red Hots and stir until dissolved. Return drained cukes to crock and pour mixture over and let stand overnight.

Drain syrup into large pot. Pack rings into sterile jars. Heat syrup to boiling and pour into jars. Seal and turn upside down for 5 minutes or water bath for 15 minutes.

Tip: after rings have been soaked in alum handle carefully as they are crisp and can break. Yum Yum

I love this recipe. People cannot believe they are not spiced apples and I don't have to waste those lovely cukes.