Cantalope Pickles

Cantalope Pickles

Ingredients:
4 mediun cantalopes
2 qts.water
8 tbs.canning salt
5 cups boiling water
3 cups cider vinegar
8 cups sugar
5 sticks cinnamon
2 tbs.whole cloves
1 tsp.nutmeg


Choose cantalopes that are not over ripe. Cut in half, remove seeds. Peel and cut into 1 inch cubes. Mix cold water and salt together, pour over cantalopes & let stand 3 hours. Drain.combine boiling water with vinegar, sugar and spices, stir until dissolved. Add cantalope and boil 10 minutes. cool.cover and let stand 12 hours. Drain off syrup into another pan and boil syrup for 10 minutes. Add cantalope and simmer 40 minutes or until cantalope is transparent. Pack cantalope and syrup into clean hot pint jars. Fill jars to 1/2 inch of top. Wipe off rims and seal. Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes. Makes 8 pints.