Pickled Eggs - A Fall Favorite

For some reason, I love to make pickled eggs in the fall. This is most likely due to the canning season. Italians love to prepare for winter in Upstate New York. This tradition most likely has ties to the Great Depression. As many canned and brined to help get through the long winters in Upstate NY.

I remember as a child bottling and pickling many vegetable treats. Pickling Eggs would become a bar favorite in our area. I remember walking into a bar and seeing a dingy pickled egg bottle. I thought to myself, who in the world would eat that. 

Ingredients

• 1 Dozen Hard Boiled Eggs -10 minute boil. (Dad Tip) Peeling the eggs can be difficult. Add a tsp of baking soda to the water so the shells come off easier.
• 1 cup of apple cider/white vinegar
• 1 cup of water
• 1 tablespoon of pickling salt
• 1 teaspoon of table salt
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-3 slices of cherry peppers or long hot pepper. (Any pepper to your liking) 
• 5-10 slices of red/sweet onions
• A sprig or two of dill

Preparation 

This is a quick fun process. Roughly 20 minutes. You set up the canning jars on your counter. Add the salt and spices to the bottom along with a few onion slices. Next, add about 1/3 of the vinegar. Once you add the eggs, the volume of the vinegar will reach halfway up the canning jar. I like to add the garlic cloves, a sprig of dill, and peppers in the middle. I will add another 1/3 of water to the brine. I add the additional eggs and top the jar with the rest of the onion slices. Place the cap and refrigerate for 7-10 days to allow the eggs to soak up the flavors. Brines are a great alternative to canning. Pickled eggs last up to 3 months in the fridge. 

Pickled eggs are a fun project for you and your kids. You can feel free to tinker with the recipe. Some people add beets to the brine as it turns the eggs into a reddish/purple color. Another great tip I tried recently was making deviled eggs with pickled eggs. That frown you just had as you read this was the same as mine. I have to say, you might be quite surprised as I was. Try them and see what you think. Feel free to comment on the blog.