Watermelon Rind Preserves

This is one watermelon recipe we haven’t tried yet, but think that it sounds very interesting. If only we knew what to put watermelon rind preserves on!

What you need:

• 1½ quarts prepared watermelon rind
• 4 tablespoons salt
• 2 quarts cold water
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• ¼ cup bottled lemon juice
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced (optional)
• 7 cups water

What you do:

To Prepare Watermelon Rind: Trim green skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind; cut into 1-inch pieces. Dissolve salt in 2 quarts water and pour over rind; let stand 5 to 6 hours. Drain; rinse and drain again.

Cover with cold water and let stand 30 minutes. Drain. Sprinkle ginger over rind; cover with water and cook until fork-tender. Drain.

To Make Preserves: Combine sugar, lemon juice and 7 cups water. Boil 5 minutes; add rind and boil gently for 30 minutes. Add sliced lemon and cook until the melon rind is clear.

Pour hot preserves immediately into hot, sterile canning jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe jar rims and adjust lids. Process 5 minutes in a boiling water bath.

Yield: 6 half-pint jars

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