Apparently, there will be no watermelon jelly, if the first step involves making a gallon of watermelon juice... it is so refreshing after sweating in the garden, also refreshing after working on the computer and doing chores and when you wake up at 3 am.... need a new watermelon soon! So, to recap: To Make Watermelon Juice: Peel watermelon, put red parts in a large pot and smoosh. They say use a potato masher but just wash your hands and dig in! After smooshing, heat over medium for 5 minutes. Smoosh again thoroughly, then use a colander to strain into gallon jug. Repeat until all watermelon is smooshed, heated, smooshed again and strained. Put jug in fridge: 1. after several hours, it separates! So, if you have to make jelly pour off 2 cups and make jelly (no straining through cheese cloth!) 2. drink the top layer of light refreshing juice and then the bottom layer of a tastier, sweeter juice or stir and drink. 3. theoretically, you should be able to get a few jars out of a gallon and still have enough for juice but it is so very refreshing! moderator's note: moved topic to more appropriate forum
I have not made watermelon jelly with the juice. What we make with watermelons is more properly called "preserves" I think. It is made with the rind. You eat the melon, saving the rinds. Peel them and trim off all red parts so you just have the white or very light green rinds. cut these in pieces not longer than 2 inches by 1/2 inch (the thickness of the rind) sliced 1/8th inch thick. Cover with simple syrup (half sugar, half water) and boil til tender. Add cloves or other flavor if you want. Lift out of the liquid with slotted spoon and put in pint jars. Re-add liquid if needed to get rid of air bubbles. Boiling water bath process for 15 minutes for pints.
Rockhound, if you added vinegar, your'd be making the watermelon rind pickles my aunt always made. We loved it, it was sweet like bread and butter pickles. I did buy another watermelon but it was not at all sweet, had no flavor! I shared it with the dogs and got to enjoy picking up pink poo and was later informed that if I do that again to please inform DH so he doesn't have a heart attack on the trail in the morning thinking dog is internally bleeding It was so good but I got our my calculator and determined the gallon of juice was about 1200 calories -over three days not so bad but also not so good. I am going to make another batch but freeze them in popsicles -that should slow down my consumption slightly.
