Watermelon Rind Pickles (Crisp Version)
- Ingredients:
- 10
- Yields:
-
7 pints
ingredients
- 4 quarts prepared watermelon rind
- 3 tablespoons pickling lime
- 2 quarts cold water
- 2 tablespoons whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 pieces gingerroot
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- 8 cups sugar
- 1 quart white vinegar
- 1 quart water
directions
- To prepare watermelon rind: Trim dark skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind; cut in 1-inch pieces or as wanted.
- Dissolve lime in 2 quarts water, pour over rind.
- If needed, add more water to cover rind.
- Let stand 2 hours.
- Drain: rinse and cover rind with cold water.
- Cook until just tender; drain.
- Tie spices in a cheesecloth bag.
- Combine spices with remaining ingredients and simmer 10 minutes.
- Add watermelon rind and simmer until clear.
- Add boiling water if syrup becomes too thick before rind is clear.
- Remove spice bag.
- Pack, boiling hot, into sterilized mason jars, leaving 1/8-inch head space.
- Adjust caps and allow to seal.
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Reviews
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To prepare and can according to County Extension guidelines: Pare rind and all pink edges from the watermelon. Cut into 1-inch squares or fancy shapes as desired. Cover with brine made by mixing the salt with 3 quarts cold water. Add ice cubes. Let stand 5 to 6 hours. Drain; rinse with cold water. Cover with cold water and cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes (do not overcook). Drain. Combine sugar, vinegar, water, and spices (tied in a clean, thin, white cloth). Boil 5 minutes and pour over the watermelon with spices; add lemon slices. Let stand overnight. Heat watermelon in syrup to boiling and cook until watermelon is translucent (about 10 minutes). Pack hot pickles loosely into clean, hot pint jars. To each jar add 1 piece of stick cinnamon from spice bag; cover with boiling syrup to within 1/2 inch of top. Adjust jar lids as in fresh-pack dills. Process in simmering water bath at 200 to 205 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove jars and complete seals if necessary. Set jars upright, several inches apart, on a wire rack to cool.
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I remembered liking them as a child and I think they turned out how they were supposed to -- crunchy, sweet, sour, spicy -- but they're just too sweet for me now. I should have though about what 8 cups sugar really means, and hunted around for a little different recipe with less sugar. I'm a little depressed that my taste buds have changed. I'll put some in the fridge and we'll see how often I crave them. Any other idea for uses?
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
I am currently a stay at home Mom and wife (aka: homemaker, domestic engineer, chauffeur, etc.). My husband and I made this choice about 2 1/2 years ago. At the time I was averaging 72 hours/week +. Our kids were complaining that they never saw me, and one of them was even getting in trouble (too little supervision apparently). We got the troubled teen through high school, and she is currently preparing for college. Things have improved a lot so I am considering going back to work part-time while the kids are gone to school (if the right opportunity presents itself).
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<br>I love to cook, especially trying new recipes. I get tired of the same ol', same ol'. I also love reading cookbooks and the history of recipes. I always hated doing all the dishes afterwards, so I did a lot of one dish meals whenever possible. Recently, my husband bought me a new dishwasher, so now I am cooking up a storm! Everyone is loving it.
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<br>I look forward to making new friends in Recipezaar, trying out new recipes, and hope some of you will try some of mine. Please, if you try my recipes, take time to post a little note telling me about your experience and any modifications you may have made. I just love to experiment and try new things in the kitchen! :-))