Watermelon Rind Preserves

I remember my mother making these as a child (She never wastes anything!) This is a way to make an otherwise "garbage" item very delicious.

• Ready In: 7 hrs 20 mins
• Yields: 6 half pints

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 quarts  prepared watermelon rind
• 4  teaspoons salt
• 2  quarts  cold water
• 1  thinly sliced lemon
• 1  teaspoon ground ginger
• 4  cups sugar
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 7  cups water

Directions

1. To prepare watermelon rind: Trim green skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind.
2. Cut into 1" pices.
3. Dissolve salt in 2 quarts water and pour over rind.
4. Let stand 5-6 hours.
5. Drain; rinse and drain again.
6. Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes.
7. Drain.
8. Sprinkle ginger over rind; cover with water and cook until fork-tender.
9. Drain.
10. Combine sugar, lemon juice and 7 cups water.
11. Boil 5 minutes; add rind and boil gently for 30 minutes.
12. Add sliced lemon and cook until the melon rind is clear.
13. Pack hot into hot jars, leaving 1/4" head space.
14. Remove air bubbles.
15. Adjust caps.
16. Process 20 minutes in boiling water bath.