CINNAMON WATERMELON RIND PICKLES

Make the most of your watermelon! After eating the juicy red watermelon pulp, use the peeled rind to make this sweet, cinnamon-flavored pickle.

YOU WILL NEED:
Sliced peeled watermelon rind
1/4 cup salt
2 cups cool water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup white vinegar
Some cut chilies(optional)
2 glass preserving jars with lids 
Spices:1 cinnamon sticks, broken in half,Some cloves, star anise and pepper corns

*To prepare watermelon rind, remove dark green peel from watermelon rind and discard. Cut rind into 2- x 1-inch slices.

DIRECTIONS:
DAY 1:
Soak watermelon rind with salt and water in a large  glass or stainless steel bowl.  Covered and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
DAY 2
TRANSFER rind to a colander placed over a sink. Drain and rinse in cool running water. Drain and rinse againspices . Drain thoroughly.
Bring the vinegar, water, sugar and spices to a boil over medium-high heat in a medium saucepan . Hold the boil for 60 seconds then carefully add the watermelon rinds. Return to a boil and turn off the heat. Remove the pan from the heat and cool for 30 minutes.
Move the pickles to a 2-quart jar using a ladle. Pour on as much of the pickling juice as possible. Cover the jar and leave at room temperature for another one and half hours.
Refrigerate overnight and consume within a month. These pickles must be refrigerated.

Happy making !