Pickled Watermelon

Photo: flickr user foodistablog

Ingredients

9 cups water

11 cups watermelon pieces

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Stir water and salt together in a large bowl. Add watermelon balls. Cover and let stand on counter overnight. Drain. Rinse and drain again.

In a large saucepan combine next 5 ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally.

Add watermelon.

Return to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for about 20 minutes.

Remove cinnamon pieces.

Pack fruit into hot sterilized pint jars to within 1 inch of top.

Bring syrup to a full rolling boil on medium-high heat for approximately 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens. Don't boil too long or syrup will start to caramelize and change color. It will thicken a bit with a tinge of golden color.

Pour syrup over fruit to within 1/2 inch of top.

Place sterilized metal lids on jars and screw metal bands on securely.

Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.