I have been making hard cider for a couple of years now. First year I started fermentation in the carboy - and was getting the explosions. This year, I started fermentation in a large mouth 5 gallon tub. It came with a lid and a hole in which you put the bung and air lock. Use the champagne yeast, not brewer's yeast or baker's yeast as this will increase the alcohol content. Cider only takes about 2 weeks to get done - some people keep wine for 30 or 60 days. In the first few days, you'll see "head" and bubbles, you will also see the yeast in suspension. After a week, the bubbles will disappear but the yeast is still there. I tried drinking it - and it gave me a pretty bad hang over - the reason is that the organic products in suspension give off trace quantities of methanol. After a week more, the yeast will die and fall to bottom and the cider will clarify. You won't see the yeast in suspension. Now it's done and ready for bottling. I tried drinking it again - and no hangover. The taste is not quite cider - more like white wine. --- Regarding your question - you can add the sugar and the yeast. If the vinegar is not "strong" enough as a pickling agent - then the yeast will continue to ferment. If it is strong enough - then the yeast will not - which means it is a strong enough pickling agent. However, be sure to add champagne yeast - as that can tolerate the highest alcohol content and acidity - I believe around 18%. Also, you can just taste the vinegar and compare it to another product with a published acetic acid content of 5%. Is it more or less sour - if it is more sour - it should have higher vinegar concentration. It sounds to me like you vinegar is still oxidizing. You have to stir the vinegar and keep it open to air to allow oxygen to interact with the alcohol. If it is unstirred, in a large barrel it can take six months, with an automatic stirrer it could take a two or three weeks. The more surface area that is exposed to air and the frequent agitation will reduce the time to complete the process.

"driving my family crazy", LOL. They'll enjoy your hobby this winter! What matters is that the vinegar is 5% acidity. Which kind, distilled or cider, is totally up to you. Some prefer white vinegar for light pickles and relishes to maintain the brightest color. It also has a sharper flavor. Old-time farm cooks often chose apple cider vinegar, even if it did darken the product, because it has a softer, sweeter finish on the palate. So it's totally a matter of individual preference. You could always divide a batch and try some of each. (Just be careful about measurement if it's salsa you're dividing.) Carol

Wow....I just looked at that recipe with a critical eye.....that will be a mucky mess...it will be something like an egg strata without the eggs...It will be too soft to pack into a rolled pork roast....if you put in 3 cups of milk! I would only add as much liquid as you need to moisten....and that liquid wouldn't be milk but broth. Teh fruits and vegetables sound wonderful together....but then it goes and adds a lot of bread and milk. I'll bet it would be good baked in a casserole though and served as a side.

Maybe this is too close to what you usually do but it's my favourite roast pork recipe. Pork With Herb Crust Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method -------- ------------ -------------------------------- 2 (3- to 4-pound) racks of -pork 3 -tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 7 garlic cloves -- minced 1/3 cup fresh basil -- Chopped 1/3 cup fresh thyme -- Chopped 1/3 cup fresh parsley -- Chopped 2 tablespoon pepper -- Coarsely Ground 1 1/4 cup butter (or margarine) -- cut up -1/3 cup all-purpose flour 2 can chicken broth 1 tablespoon tomato paste 2 tablespoon fresh sage -- Chopped 1/4 teaspoon pepper Rub pork with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Stir together garlic and next 4 ingredients; press onto pork. Place pork on a rack in a lightly greased broiler pan; cover bone tips with aluminum foil to prevent burning. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into thickest portion registers 150max, I prefer 140-145 ! Transfer pork to a serving tray.Cover and let rest while making sauce (even if you don't make the sauce let the pork rest for at least 10 minutes to redistribute juices and let the internal temp climb a bit more) Pour pan drippings into a skillet.Add butter to drippings; cook over medium heat until butter melts. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, until caramel colored. Gradually whisk in broth and next 3 ingredients; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Serve with 'pork. Garnish, if desired. Yield: 8 serving