This is a great condiment to go with hot dogs and bratwursts.

1. Wash tomatoes in cold water. Drain and dry with paper towels. Core and cut into bite-sized chunks.

2. Layer tomatoes in a very large stockpot. Sprinkle each layer well with pickling salt. Cover with a clean white cotton dishcloth. Let sit in a draft-free area for 2 to 4 hours. The pickling salt draws moisture from the hard tomatoes. If it is a very warm day, 2 hours is sufficient to soften tomatoes a bit.

3. Rinse in cold water at least twice. Drain well. Divide into 2 large stockpots.

4. Slice onions. Wash and dry peppers. Seed and cut into slices. Divide equally between two stockpots.

5. Divide the cider vinegar and white vinegar between the stockpots to cover vegetables. Divide sugar evenly between stockpots. Stir well.

6. Fold a square of cheesecloth twice and place half the mixed pickling spice, half the dried hot peppers, and four of the bay leaves onto it. Gather up the corners and tie with kitchen string. Repeat with remaining pickling spice, hot peppers, and bay leaves. Place one spice ball into each stockpot. Sink it down toward the middle.

7. Stir ingredients in each stockpot well. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat and simmer 30 to 45 minutes until tomatoes are tender but not mushy.

8. Remove and discard spice balls.

9. Use a slotted spoon to fill each jar with veggie mixture, packing down with plastic knife to remove air pockets.

10. Cover with hot brine, leaving 1" headspace. Wipe rims and place sterilized lid on each jar. Tightly screw on sterilized band. Process in boiling-water bath for 20 minutes.

• MAKES 12-15 QUARTS

• INGREDIENTS

• 20–25 pounds solid hard totally green tomatoes

• 10–12 pounds onions

• 1 container Morton’s Pickling

• Salt

• 4 large green peppers

• 4 large sweet red peppers

• 4 large sweet orange peppers

• 4 large sweet yellow peppers

• ½ gallon cider vinegar

• 2–3 gallons white vinegar

• 10 cups white sugar

• ½ cup mixed pickling spice

• 2–4 dried hot peppers

• 8 bay leaves