Pickled Watermelon Rinds

Now that I have your attention...I will actually be giving you the recipe for Cinnamon Watermelon Rind Pickles. You may be already deciding that it sounds nasty and you will never ever ever make it. You would be sadly mistaken. You must try this with an open mind. I saw the name and decided it was so crazy I had to make it.....And I love it. I think I will serve it as finger food at Thanksgiving. Yumolishous! I also love that it is a waste not want not kind of food.

16 cups sliced peeled watermelon rind (2-1 inch)
1 cup
8 cups cool water, divided
6 cups sugar
4 cups white vinegar
3 cinnamon sticks broken in 1/2

In a large crock, glass, or stainless steel bowl, mix the watermelon rind and salt. Add 4 cups cool water and let it soak over night.
Drain and rinse, drain and rinse again. Then drain thoroughly.
In a stainless steel saucepan, combine rind with remaining 4 cups cool water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and boil gently until rind is fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine sugar, vinegar, and cinnamon stick halves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat and boil gently for 5 minutes, until cinnamon has infused the liquid. Add drained rind and return to a boil. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour, until watermelon is translucent. Discard cinnamon sticks.
Now here is how I cheat on canning. I put all my jars in the hottest water my tap will allow and then I put the lids in a saucepan and cover the lids with water and boil them. When my food is ready and boiling, I keep it on medium heat, and ladle it in to the jars. Next I wipe the rim of the glass jar to make sure I can get a good seal. Then I take one of those lids from the boiling water and place it on my jar. Finally I get a ring and screw it on to finger tip tight. They always seal. Another super cheep thing I do is save all my jars! If I bought jam or pickles or any thing that comes in a glass far, I wash it and use it again. Everything I have ever canned in them seals, always. It is a free jar! I reuse those jars again and again. I find that if I do not screw the lids down tight they last longer. I reuse the lids from my store bought jars too. So far so good! I hope that was clear and easy to read. I will come back in a few days and see if it still makes since.