Watermelon Pickle

Ingredients

4 pounds (about 2 qts) watermelon rind
10 2-inch pieces cinnamon
2 tbsp whole allspice
2 tbsp whole cloves
1 1/2 qts white vinegar
1 lemon sliced thin
1 qt water
10 cups sugar
2 tbsp preserved ginger sliced thin (optional)

Instructions

Cut off green and pink parts of rind; slice or cut into strips 2 inches long and an inch wide. Soak for about 2 1/2 hours in 2 quarts water with 2 tbsp salt. Drain, cover with fresh water, and cook until tender, adding more water as needed. Let stand in cooking water several hours. Tie whole spices in a bag and add to vinegar, lemon, water, sugar, and ginger (if used). Boil 5 minutes, add watermelon rind and simmer for 2 hours or until syrup is fairly thick and rind transparent. Remove spice bag, pack pickles into jars, and fill with boiling sirup to within 1/4 inch of top. Seal.