Delicious asparagus!

I attended Burning Man this year and pickles were a big hit, I even heard someone say through a megaphone, way too early in the morning to be using a megaphone I might add, "pickles are the new bacon" which I totally agreed with, however, not only did I enjoy our favorite pickled cucumbers, and peppers but someone in camp had pickled asparagus. It was delicious. And it goes like this.

 

What you will need

• 30 asparagus spears
• 1/3 cup coarse salt
• 2 quarts cold water
• 1 2/3 cups distilled white vinegar
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon mustard seed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dill seed
• 1 white onion, sliced into rings
• 1/2 teaspoon chili pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs fresh dill

What you will do

1. Trim the cut end of the asparagus spears, and cut them into 3 inch lengths. Place them in a large bowl with 1/3 cup salt, and cover with water. Let stand for 2 hours. Drain and rinse under cool water, and pat dry.
2. Sterilize two pint size wide mouth jars in simmering water for 5 minutes.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the vinegar, sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, mustard seed, dill seed and onion rings. Bring to a boil, and boil for one minute.
4. Pack the asparagus spears, tips up, in the hot jars leaving 1/2 of space from the rim. Tuck one dill sprig into each jar, and sprinkle in 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Pour hot pickling liquid into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the rim. Wipe rims with a clean damp cloth, and seal with lids. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
5. Cool to room temperature. Check seals when cool by pressing the center of the lid. It should not move. Label and date; store in a cool dark place. If any jars have not sealed properly, refrigerate and eat within two weeks.