So lately, I have been making lots of recipes that use up what might have normally been thrown away in my effort to live more like my grandmother would have. She and her generation did not throw away anything that still had use. Today I am sharing an good ole Southern favorite, watermelon rind pickles. They are of course made with the rind (you know the white and green part you throw away after you eat the pink part). These are super yummy and it was so nice to make them knowing that I am getting more out of my food dollar.
There are lots of different recipes out there. I have had one from an old recipe book (not sure the name because I only saved that one page. I tweaked the recipe and added a simple syrup at the end and they are wonderful.
Watermelon rind pickles
Rind of half a watermelon left over from eating the inside
2 quarts water
1/2 c sea salt
2 c vinegar
3 c sugar
juice of half a lemon
6 cinnamon sticks
10-12 whole cloves
Simple syrup
1 c water
1 c sugar
Cut the watermelon rind into strips and with a potato peeler or sharp knife, cut away all the green peel. Cut away as much of the inside pink from the inside.
Cut strips into chunks and soak in water with salt overnight
The next day, rinse the chunks and cover them with water again while you make the syrup.
In a pot, cook vinegar, sugar, lemon, cinnamon sticks and cloves until it gets to a gentle boil. Add the chunks and let it cook slowly for about an hour or until it is getting translucent and the syrup is thickened. Put the chunks including the cinnamon and cloves into sterlized canning jars leaving 2 inches of room from the top.
Make the simple syrup by boiling 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar for a few minutes until it boils and thickens a bit. Pour over the watermelon pickles and put on lids. Process in a water bath of fully boiling water for 10 minutes. Take them out and make sure all the jars seal.
I forgot to mention that early this week I got an email from Yummly letting me know that one of my recipes were featured. That was a nice surprise. They featured the Jello Push Pops I made for the 4th of July last year along with lots of other yummy treats. Want to see it, click here. Scroll down until you see my red, white and blue push pops.
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Its silly but it made my day. They also sent me a button to display on my blog here for people who have been featured, you can find it on the side bar. If you have a minute, won’t you visit and maybe, perhaps, leave a message about my pops : ) Thank you!!!!!
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or follow me by email at the top right hand of the screen to have future posts sent to you. Tricia (Crunchy Catholic Momma)
