Pickles tend to be a very divisive food, with many people either loving them and wanting to put them on everything or hating them and removing them from any sandwich or burger that might come with a single slice. I personally love them, and was delighted to find a recipe to be able to make them myself. This is an easy recipe with only a few ingredients, without all the hassle of canning and pickling cucumbers the traditional way.

For this recipe, you’ll need a cucumber and one large or two small onions, granulated sugar, white vinegar, table salt, celery seed and mustard seed. Though you’ll need to make a run to your preferred grocery store for most of the ingredients, you can usually find cucumber slices and diced onions at the salad bar in the Marketplace. You’ll also need a microwave-safe bowl and a microwave.

Start by slicing your cucumber and onions. Slice each of them thinly so that they will be properly saturated with the seasoning. Add them to your bowl.

Then, pour in three-quarters of a cup of sugar, half a cup of vinegar, a teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon each of celery seed and mustard seed. Mix the ingredients together to begin dissolving the sugar and to disperse the seasoning.

Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for about three minutes on high. Remove the bowl, stir the ingredients and heat it for another three minutes. Watch the mixture carefully during the cooking process. If the liquid starts bubbling, remove the bowl before the cooking time ends.

Cover the bowl or transfer them to a container that can be sealed. Place the pickles into a refrigerator and let them cool for about four hours before eating them. Enjoy!

For me, this recipe turned out really well. They have just the right level of crunch and they make a great topping for many dishes, including sandwiches, which are already perfect for college dorm life.

The pickles even taste great entirely on their own. I found the flavor to have the perfect balance of vinegar to seasoning, but you can alter the amount of celery seed, mustard seed and salt when tying it yourself. You can also add in a bit of garlic or turmeric for some additional flavoring.

If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can try pickling some other foods, like small peppers, though the cooking time will likely vary unless you slice them similarly.