Watermelon rind preserves?

[luvmychicknkids]

Anyone ever tried them? My mother swears she ate this when she was a child but I have NEVER seen or heard of such other than her. I know people make watermelon rind pickles but that sounds just nasty. I am interested in trying the preserves but wondered if it is good? I assume you would cut off the tough outer skin and use the rest like any other fruit. Gonna google it and see what I can find but also wanted some "been there done that's" if possible.

 

[ninjapoodles]

I LOVE watermelon-rind pickles! Have never made them, though, and haven't ever heard of the preserves, but I'd be willing to try them.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I just have to ask, are they sweet pickles or sour? 'Cause sour watermelon rind sounds so awful to me!!!

 

[ninjapoodles]

The ones I've had were like bread & butter style, kind of...I'm trying to remember if there were mustard seeds in the jar...I'm thinking, also, that I've had some that reminded me of Kool-Aid pickles! (And if you haven't had Kool-Aid pickles, well, you must!)

 

[ninjapoodles]

Kool-Aid Pickles (from http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/05/koolaid_pickles.html)

Kool-Aid pickles make for a tasty, colorful snack

Pickles plus Kool-Aid equals one weird looking snack.

"Those pickles were once mere dills. They were once green. Their exteriors remain pebbly, a reminder that long ago they began their lives on a farm, on the ground, as cucumbers," the New York Times reports. "But they now have an arresting color that combines green and garnet, and a bracing sour-sweet taste that they owe to a long marinade in cherry or tropical fruit or strawberry Kool-Aid."

The Gray Lady says Koolickles, as one entrepreneur calls the colorful concoction, are especially popular in the American South.

Jessica Hayes, a first-grade teacher in the Mississippi Delta with Teach for America, blogs under the name Ms. Issippi. She says she enjoyed the treat.

"It's a sweet-and-sour combination. To make a Kool-Aid pickle, dump out half of the brine in the pickle jar and refill it with your favorite flavor of Kool-Aid (preferably Jamaica, because it makes them nice and red.) Wait a few days. Enjoy. I did," she writes ( http://issippi.blogspot.com/2005/12/kool-aid-pickles-kwanakah-treat.html ).

Here's a pic of the product at Flickr.

 

[luvmychicknkids]

I am sooooo going to have to try some of those for my kids!!! And...well...maybe for myself....that is just freaky!!!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Here is a receipe that was passed on to me and I have used and I'm getting ready to use again.

WATERMELON RIND PICKLES

3 #’s of the white part of rind-cubed
5c sugar
2 c Cider Vinegar
1c Water
2T Whole Cloves
1 ½ T Whole Allspice
2T Stick Cinnamon
1 Lemon sliced

Let cubes soak overnight in large pot in salted water to cover.
Drain.
Cover with fresh cold water.
Bring to boil and cook over low heat until tender.
Drain.
Combine rest of the ingredients and stir over medium heat.
Boil 5 minutes.
Add cubes simmer until transparent-About 15 minutes.
Remove spices and pack pickles into jars and process.

 

[MissPrissy]

I haven't made any in a long time. My kids don't like them and since I am the only one that does I just never take the time to do any.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

My DH loves them. The last time I made them he almost had one batch gone before I had rind for the next. Our oldest DH has had some but, not the younger. It will be interesting to see how she likes them.

 

[ninjapoodles]

Thanks for posting that recipe! I can't wait to try it!