Lemon-Lime Cucumber Spears

Overgrown cucumbers overtaking you? Here's a sweet canning recipe for your tastebuds! I got the idea for this concoction from my mom's cinnamon rings. I figured that if you could  flavor cucumbers cinnamon, then why not lemon-lime? Both are strong flavors. So these are "pickled" with apple cider vinegar and turn out to be a very sweet treat. I will be using some of these at Christmas for gifts.

Lemon-Lime Cucumber Spears
Cucumbers
Apple cider vinegar
Sugar
Lime juice
Lemon juice
Alum
Green and yellow food coloring

Day One
1. Peel and seed cucumbers and cut into spears to fit the size of the jars you will be using. You need about 8-10 cups. Place in large container.
2. Mix one cup pickling lime with about 4 quarts of water to cover spears. Let sit overnight.

Day Two
3. Drain and rinse spears.
4. In saucepan, bring to boil: 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar,  2 tsp alum, and green and yellow food coloring (to desired color) with spears. Simmer at least an hour. Drain. Pack into jars.
5. Begin heating canner for a hot water bath. Have lids and rings ready.
6. In another saucepan, bring to boil: 1 c. cider vinegar, 1 c. water, 5 c. sugar, 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/2 cup lime juice, and green and yellow food coloring (to desired color).
7. Pour syrup over packed jars, leaving about an inch of head space. Put on lids and rings. Process 10 minutes in boiling hot water bath.
8. Remove jars from hot water bath and let cool until jars seal. Let sit for several days for flavor absorption. Enjoy chilled.