It’s the first day of Spring, I am sitting in the back yard relaxing in a lounge chair snacking on pickled green beans and sipping on a spicy Bloody Mary.

PICKLED FRESH GREEN BEANS

2 pounds green beans, 1/2 pound wax yellow beans, 3 cups water, 2 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 1/4 tablespoon pickling spice, 10 fresh dill sprigs, 2 dried red chiles, 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish,  2 tablespoons sugar,  2 tablespoons sea salt, 10 garlic cloves.

Wash the beans and trim off the ends.  Put the beans in a large bowl set aside. Add water, vinegar, salt, and sugar in a large pot, bring to a rapid boil.  Remove from the stove add the remaining ingredients, set aside allow to marinate for about 20 minutes.  Pour the vinegar mixture over the beans.  Set aside until the beans cool.  Pour everything into a large glass container that has a top.  Screw the lid on tightly and refrigerate.  Ready to eat in two days.

HELPFUL HINT:  If your hands smell like garlic or onions, hold and rinse your hands in cold water and briskly rub them with a stainless steel spoon.