Watermelon Pickles

Ingredients

• 2 pounds watermelon rind, peeled and cubed*
• 1/4 cup pickling salt (not iodized)
• 6 cups water, divided
• 1 teaspoon powdered alum
• 1 cup vinegar
• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 stick cinnamon
• 12 whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon allspice

Instructions

1. Make a brine with salt, 4 cups water and alum. Soak rind in this mixture overnight.
2. Drain, rinse and cook slowly in water until barely tender. Do not overcook or pickles will be soft. Drain.
3. Bring to boil remaining 2 cups water, vinegar, sugar, lemon and spices which have been tied in a cloth bag. Remove spice bag and pour hot syrup over rind. Let sit overnight.
4. Drain and reheat syrup for three mornings and pour over rind.
5. On the fourth morning, drain and reheat syrup and pour over rind which has been packed into sterilized 3 pint or 6 half pint jars.
6. Seal.

Notes

* When peeling rind, be sure to leave some of the pink meat on.