I have read recipes that included a grape leaf and wondered what benefit it would have on the pickles. Now I know. Thanks guys for the recipes and discussion. I am learning. Tonight I am prepping beets for pickling which will happen tomorrow. Still working at gathering veggies for the Hot Mix. Ironically here in Eastern Tennessee we have had record amounts of rain. Locally we have set new records for the most amount of rain since records have been kept. Too bad we can't share some of it with you that have drought conditions. Ann in TN