Watermelon Rind Pickles (crisp Version)

Ingredients

• 4 quarts prepared watermelon rind
• 3 tablespoons pickling lime
• 2 quarts cold water
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 pieces gingerroot
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 8 cups sugar
• 1 quart vinegar
• 1 quart water

Recipe

• 1 to prepare watermelon rind: trim dark skin and pink flesh from thick watermelon rind; cut in 1-inch pieces or as wanted.
• 2 dissolve lime in 2 quarts water, pour over rind.
• 3 if needed, add more water to cover rind.
• 4 let stand 2 hours.
• 5 drain: rinse and cover rind with cold water.
• 6 cook until just tender; drain.
• 7 tie spices in a cheesecloth bag.
• 8 combine spices with remaining ingredients and simmer 10 minutes.
• 9 add watermelon rind and simmer until clear.
• 10 add boiling water if syrup becomes too thick before rind is clear.
• 11 remove spice bag.
• 12 pack, boiling hot, into sterilized mason jars, leaving 1/8-inch head space.
• 13 adjust caps and allow to seal.