Pickled Cactus
The south and midwest do not corner the market on white trash. There are lots of trailer folk in the desert as well. Bon Apetit.
Ingredients
2 quarts Prickly pears
Measure before cutting
2 cups Sugar
2/3 cup Vinegar
3 ounces Red cinnamon candies
1 teaspoon Pickling spice
1/2 teaspoon Whole cloves -- optional
Method
Remove skins of prickly pear fruit. (Theyre more easily handled if you burn off
the spines first.) Cut in halves lengthwise and remove seeds. Tie the pickling
spice and cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth. Combine bag and all
ingredients but pears. Cook pears in the syrup until transparent. Remove cc bag.
Put pickles and syrup in canning jars with two-piece lids (you know, the flat
part with rubber around edge and the screw-on outer ring.) Process for 15
minutes in boiling water to cover. If you dont have a canner, you can use any
large covered kettle. Be sure to place a rack or folded dish towel under the
jars before boiling.