Spiced Pickled Red Cabbage

Ingredients
3 heads red cabbage, 10-12 pounds cored and shredded
1/2 cup salt, separated
2 red onions, peeled, halved, sliced thin
1/4 allspice
1/4 cup juniper berries
1/4 cup mixed peppercorns
1/4 cup celery seed
2 bay leaves
2 cinnamon sticks, broken
17 ounces raspberry vinegar
47 ounces red wine vinegar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup mustard seeds
1/8 cup ground mace
1 tart apple, peeled cored and shredded

Directions

1 In a large stainless steel pot layer cabbage and 1/3 cup salt. Cover and let sit in a cool spot for 24 hours.

2 After 18 hours of cabbage sitting layer onions and remaining salt in a separate glass or stainless bowl cover with cold water to cover and let sit in a cool spot.

3 Transfer cabbage to a colander a bit at a time to drain and rinse under cold running water.

4 OK now you can place on paper lined trays to dry for about 6 hours. Or go ahead and let sun dry for 3 hours on paper towel line trays.

5 Prepare canners, jars and lids.

6 Prepare the spice bag by placing in a cheese cloth place allspice, juniper, peppercorns, celery seed, bay leaves, and cinnamon pieces tie to enclose.

7 In a large stainless steel pan combine vinegars, sugar, mustard seed, mace, and spice bag. bring to a boil stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat and gentle boil for 5 minutes. Rinse onions under cold running water add apple and onions to vinegar mixture. Cook for 5 minutes.

8 Discard spice bag.

9 Remove onions and apples place in a very large pot or bowl with cabbage tossing to mix all together.

10 DON`T discard the liquid. Keep it heated.

11 Packed the mixed veggies into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch head space. Ladle hot vinegar mixture in cabbage filled jars leaving 1/2 inch head space.Remove air bubbles. Wipe rims and place lids and screw tops to finger tightness.

12 Place jars in a canner covering with boiling water by at least 1 inch. Bring back to a boil covered for 20 minutes. Remove lid and turn off flame let sit for 5 more minutes. Remove and jars and let cool in a draft free spot to cool.

13 Remove air bubbles.