Yesterday I made a batch of watermelon jelly using the recipe I found here.
How to make Watermelon Jelly
Picked up a nice looking whole seedless watermelon on sale at Shop-Rite.
Chopped up about 4 cups of seedless melon
Puree in the blender, I ended up with almost four cups of the liquid instead of the 2 that the recipe said I'd wind up with, probably because I really packed it into the measuring cup. I think a recipe with by weight quantities might be better, but I can imagine that volume to weight ratio might vary depending on the type of watermelon.
Add 1 package Pectin mixed with 1/4 cup of sugar and 3 tablespoons lemon juice, bring to a boil
Add remaining 3 1/4 cups of sugar and bring to full boil again for one minute
pour into the jars, process in a hot water bath canner for 10 minutes and let cool to room temperature.
I got a little nervous with this because the previous experiment didn't set, so for this I added some extra pectin, by the time I woke up this morning, it had set beautifully, and tastes very refreshing on a piece of toast. Captures the flavor of summer pretty well. I actually liked it a lot better before I added all the sugar, the liquid that had just the pectin, and 1/4 cup of sugar, and the lemon juice tasted like jolly ranchers candy. The finished product has a bit more of a sweetened commercial jelly taste, which I guess is the point after 3 and 1/2 cups of sugar are added. I have a few extra jars, if anyone wants some let me know, this was definitely a successful project and I would make it again in the future.One thing I was hesitant to try this time was something I also saw a lot of recipes for.... pickled water melon rind... I've never even heard of it, has any one tried it? Is it worth experimenting with the next time around?
This week Shop-Rite has a 6 pint flat of blueberries on sale for 6.99... I am very tempted to make a go of some blueberry preserves next weekend, since my own blueberry bushes wont be producing anything for at least 2 or 3 years.
We wiped out the mint "crop" while we were weeding a week ago, so either we let it grow out again, or I'm not going to attempt it. I know it's growing in the same soil as the tomatoes and peppers I'm growing, but I'm a little leery about trying to make something edible out of what I consider a nuisance weed... it just seems gross, anyone out there who loves mint jelly want to convince me otherwise? The only use I can think of is for serving with lamb, and I don't even care for lamb.
Mint means mint julep or a mojito :-)
ReplyDeleteYes watermelon rind pickles are worth doing!
You don't need to use only the mint. Try using it as a flavor for the jelly. I know I made mint watermelon jam last year that I adore. It also got put with plum.
ReplyDeleteRuby Tuesdays makes a watermelon drink with watermelon, limes, mint. Its very refreshing. I make a simple syrup and steep the mint in it. Add the lime juice. Combine with watermelon puree and add equal parts tonic water.
Watermelon pickles are a different taste, but a worthy thing to do. If nothing else its a great way to play with pickles without finding pickling cukes and such.
I made pickled rind for the first time with a recipe that uses ginger and cinnamon and they are fantastic. I can't wait to make a watermelon pickle relish. The rind really holds up so it is nice and crisp.
ReplyDelete-mint tea, either hot or iced!
ReplyDelete-tabbouleh, with mint (bulgur wheat, parsley, mint, tomato, finely diced, lemon juice)
-mint raita (plain yogurt, shredded cucumber, mint, salt, a dash of cumin
watermelon rind pickle was a favorite growing up, but I've noticed that watermelons nowadays don't have a very thick rind-need to find an heirloom variety!
Lot's of great ideas for the mint here. It's been a bothersome weed since I bought my house, in the summer it pops up somewhere new every week, but I have yet to try to make anything out of it. I think I'll try the watermelon rind pickles this weekend. I'm going to make another batch of Jam also. on Watermelon
ReplyDeleteMake crabapple-mint jelly from Eugenia Bone's, At Mesa's Edge (http://www.amazon.com/At-Mesas-Edge-Ranching-Colorados/dp/B005UWBAJI/ref=la_B001IZ15Z0_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1340822412&sr=1-3). I used a steam juicer to save time and tedium, and the results were fantastic. The mint really adds a perk. I also carry around mint leaves and lime and/or sliced cucumber with ice in my water bottle for a refreshing all day summer cooler. Also, dry mint and mix it with dried chamomile and lavendar for a perfectly relaxing bedside loose tea. Mint is my friend and whatever I fight with gets eatten.
ReplyDeleteThrow some watermelon pieces and mint into your water for a refreshing drink - yum! Send me some mint so I can grow it here! Must smell heavenly when you mow the lawn! :)
ReplyDelete