LOL, I did it the hard way! I guess I'm a chicken. I added the rinsed and previously salted cuke mixture to a large pot of my boiling vinegar mixture, and brought it almost to a reboil, before ladling it into clean jars, and processed the 1/2 pint jars at a full boil for 10 mins.
Next time I'll try cold pack. :-)
You are not, repeat NOT, being chicken. You’re just being your usual smart self! :)
One little tip for the cold pack. I put a metal dinner knife in each jar, and ladle the hot liquid on the knife and over the cold pack.
The metal will absorb some of the heat, and keep the glass from breaking even if the glass has cooled a lot.