Posted at http://mynew30.blogspot.com/
1 large watermelon
3 quarts of water
3/4 cup of table salt
2 quarts of ice cubes
Fresh water, just to cover rinds
Square of cheesecloth & piece of string
1 tablespoon of whole cloves
1 tablespoon of whole allspice
3 cups of fresh water
3 cups of white vinegar
9 cups of sugar
1 lemon, sliced thin
4 to 5 prepared pint sized Mason jars
Peel the watermelon, remove & reserve pulp. Cut the rind into 1-inch sized cubes until you have about 12 cups of cubes.
In a large pot, stir the water and salt together until salt is dissolved. Add the rind to the salt mixture and top with the ice; cover and let stand for 8 hours.
Drain, rinse the pot and rinse the rinds well, returning them to the pot. Add enough water to just cover the rinds, bring to a boil and boil until rinds are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Make a packet with the cloves and allspice by placing them into a square of cheesecloth and tying it with a string. In that same pot you've been using, add 3 cups of fresh water, and stir in the vinegar and sugar. Place the spice packet into the water and bring mixture to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, turn off heat, and add the rind to the sugar mixture. Stir in the slices of lemon, cover and let stand for at least 8 hours.
Bring the rind mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and simmer for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, prepare the lids & jars and keep them warm. Pack the mixture into the hot jars, to 1/2 inch from the top. Remove any air bubbles and wipe off the jar rim with a clean dishcloth dipped into the hot water. Cover with the lids and tighten a band on the jar. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Makes about 4 pint jars, depending on the size of your rinds.
