Pickled Garlic

3 cups fresh garlic cloves
1 1/2 cups white distilled vinegar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Peel cloves; if large, cut in half lengthwise. In a non-reactive saucepan, combine vinegar, sugar and salt. Bring to boiling and stir until sugar dissolves. Drop garlic into mixture and cook, uncovered, over high heat 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; let cool. Store in tightly covered jar in refrigerator for 3 months or longer.

To make a crisper, slightly spicier garlic pickle, add 1/16 to 1/8 teaspoon alum and 1/2 teaspoon crushed red peppercorns.