Watermelon Pickles - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 c. pickling or uniodized salt
8 c. cold water
4 qt. 1-inch cubes pared watermelon rind
2 Tbsp. whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces
1 piece ginger root
9 c. sugar
8 c. cider vinegar

Preparation

Dissolve salt in cold water; pour over watermelon rind.
Stir in additional water if necessary to cover rind.
Let stand in cool place 8 hours.
Drain rind; cover with cold water.
Heat to boiling.
Cook uncovered just until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain; tie cloves, cinnamon and ginger root in cheesecloth bag. Heat cheesecloth bag, sugar and vinegar to boil in large saucepan, stirring occasionally.
Boil uncovered 5 minutes; reduce heat. Add rind.
Simmer uncovered 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Remove cheesecloth bag.
Immediately pack mixture in hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
Wipe rims of jars.
Seal and process in boiling water bath 10 minutes.
Makes
7 to 8 pints pickles.