My wife and I are making Pickled Watermelon today, and I'm using the side burner on my JA 720-0165 for cooking and canning [the grill tie-in].
We first fell in love with Pickled Watermelon after we had it at the Farnsworth House Inn in Gettysburg. We got to Gettysburg ~ 6-8 times per year, and the Farnsworth House is a favority eatery. We like 19th century foods and preparation techniques ... and these watermelon pickles date back to that time period.
Recipe:
1 medium watermelon
1tbsp. alum
1.5 gal. water
4 tbsp. salt
3 cups sugar
1 qt. vinegar
3 qt. water
1 box mixed pickling spices
Use only the rind of the watermelon and cut into small pieces. Soak overnight on 1.5 gallons of water with salt added.
Rinse in clear water next morning. Add alum to 3 quarts of water and place rinsed watermelon rinds in. Let stand about 1/2 hour. Rinse again and squeeze. Next mix sugar and vinegar in large pot Bring to a boil, add rind simmering until tender. Transfer to jars and can or refrigerate.
Billy Goat in WV
Full Version: Pickled Watermelon
Do you leave the outside skin on and does it matter what type of vinegar?
Eric D
Eric D
QUOTE (Eric D @ Jul 14 2007, 03:39 PM) 
Do you leave the outside skin on and does it matter what type of vinegar?
Eric D
Eric D
Eric D:
My wife cuts it off ... I like to leave it on, but she says it makes them too tough.
You can use cider or white vinegar.
Sure am glad you are back ... I hope like slows down for you so you can enjoy it a bit more.
Billy Goat in WV
Billy Goat,
Years ago, I'm not sure how many but it was quite a while back, I had the opportunity to get down to West Virginia. I was there with my company truck, a large 14' cargo box van on a delicate mission along with my landlord who owned the building I was in at the time. I was not sure where or what our route was, my landlord had plotted the entire trip down and back, but we stayed in Gettysburg. Guess where? You got it, the Farnsworth Inn! I don't recall much about it other than my landlord trying to scare me with tall tales of how the Inn was haunted! I do recall it was very hot, I was quite uncomfortable and spent a very sleepless night there. But the building was amazing with all the reenactment of earlier times at this place, there was quite a lot of memorabilia from the Civil War days. Being as we weren't there on pleasure, I could not enjoy researching and visiting as a tourist normally would, but I was taken aback with the enourmous splendor and history of the place.
A quick explanation is due: my landlord years ago was the owner of a burial vault and monument stone business. A woman had lost her son a year prior in a motorcycle accident, and her husband had just died then, a year later. She decided she wanted to move back to her roots and be near her side of the family, they lived in Gettysburg. So, she had my landlord exume the burial vault and wished for her son to be relocated in a cemetary in Gettysburg. My landlord at that time had a couple of dozen large flatbed trucks with hydraulic booms mounted that they used to deliver vaults and lower into the graves after the funeral. He felt (at least this is the explanation I was given) that none of his trucks could make the trip to WV and back without a big risk of breakdown. I had a couple of brand new Mitsubishi 14' cargo vans for delivering and installing our custom cabinetry, and he asked if he could borrow one to relocate the vault in WV. I complied with his wish, but with the stipulation that I drive the truck (I knew all his drivers and had no wish for them to wreck, er, I mean, drive, any truck of mine, especially on a trip that would be over 12 hours (these diesel engines have a governor restricting them to 4000 rpm - 60 mph max) each way! Long story short, I got to visit Gettysburg, even though on a somber mission. In fact, my landlord actually had booked our rooms at this particular Inn because he knew of a funeral parlor in the basement, refurbed as an historical site just as it was back in the day (I did not go downstairs - not my cup of tea).
Here we are in present day, two guys a good days ride apart, connected only by a common interest in BBQ grilling over the long reaching arms of the Internet, chatting about a menu item that you had grown fond of, found in an Inn that we have both had occasion to visit! Small world!
I don't remember if they had pickled watermelon on the menu that day, but I do know they had several assorted excellent home made pastries that were to die for! But I am interested in this watermelon item you describe, I'm printing out the recipe and will try it myself. Here in NJ we have some of the best watermelon in the country, but I've only eaten the inside, always discarding the rind. Okay, time to use the entire melon, thanks to your input!
Our world grows closer! Mike
Years ago, I'm not sure how many but it was quite a while back, I had the opportunity to get down to West Virginia. I was there with my company truck, a large 14' cargo box van on a delicate mission along with my landlord who owned the building I was in at the time. I was not sure where or what our route was, my landlord had plotted the entire trip down and back, but we stayed in Gettysburg. Guess where? You got it, the Farnsworth Inn! I don't recall much about it other than my landlord trying to scare me with tall tales of how the Inn was haunted! I do recall it was very hot, I was quite uncomfortable and spent a very sleepless night there. But the building was amazing with all the reenactment of earlier times at this place, there was quite a lot of memorabilia from the Civil War days. Being as we weren't there on pleasure, I could not enjoy researching and visiting as a tourist normally would, but I was taken aback with the enourmous splendor and history of the place.
A quick explanation is due: my landlord years ago was the owner of a burial vault and monument stone business. A woman had lost her son a year prior in a motorcycle accident, and her husband had just died then, a year later. She decided she wanted to move back to her roots and be near her side of the family, they lived in Gettysburg. So, she had my landlord exume the burial vault and wished for her son to be relocated in a cemetary in Gettysburg. My landlord at that time had a couple of dozen large flatbed trucks with hydraulic booms mounted that they used to deliver vaults and lower into the graves after the funeral. He felt (at least this is the explanation I was given) that none of his trucks could make the trip to WV and back without a big risk of breakdown. I had a couple of brand new Mitsubishi 14' cargo vans for delivering and installing our custom cabinetry, and he asked if he could borrow one to relocate the vault in WV. I complied with his wish, but with the stipulation that I drive the truck (I knew all his drivers and had no wish for them to wreck, er, I mean, drive, any truck of mine, especially on a trip that would be over 12 hours (these diesel engines have a governor restricting them to 4000 rpm - 60 mph max) each way! Long story short, I got to visit Gettysburg, even though on a somber mission. In fact, my landlord actually had booked our rooms at this particular Inn because he knew of a funeral parlor in the basement, refurbed as an historical site just as it was back in the day (I did not go downstairs - not my cup of tea).
Here we are in present day, two guys a good days ride apart, connected only by a common interest in BBQ grilling over the long reaching arms of the Internet, chatting about a menu item that you had grown fond of, found in an Inn that we have both had occasion to visit! Small world!
I don't remember if they had pickled watermelon on the menu that day, but I do know they had several assorted excellent home made pastries that were to die for! But I am interested in this watermelon item you describe, I'm printing out the recipe and will try it myself. Here in NJ we have some of the best watermelon in the country, but I've only eaten the inside, always discarding the rind. Okay, time to use the entire melon, thanks to your input!
Our world grows closer! Mike
QUOTE (cuskit @ Jul 14 2007, 11:04 PM)
Billy Goat,
Years ago, I'm not sure how many but it was quite a while back, I had the opportunity to get down to West Virginia. I was there with my company truck, a large 14' cargo box van on a delicate mission along with my landlord who owned the building I was in at the time. I was not sure where or what our route was, my landlord had plotted the entire trip down and back, but we stayed in Gettysburg. Guess where? You got it, the Farnsworth Inn! I don't recall much about it other than my landlord trying to scare me with tall tales of how the Inn was haunted! I do recall it was very hot, I was quite uncomfortable and spent a very sleepless night there. But the building was amazing with all the reenactment of earlier times at this place, there was quite a lot of memorabilia from the Civil War days. Being as we weren't there on pleasure, I could not enjoy researching and visiting as a tourist normally would, but I was taken aback with the enourmous splendor and history of the place.
A quick explanation is due: my landlord years ago was the owner of a burial vault and monument stone business. A woman had lost her son a year prior in a motorcycle accident, and her husband had just died then, a year later. She decided she wanted to move back to her roots and be near her side of the family, they lived in Gettysburg. So, she had my landlord exume the burial vault and wished for her son to be relocated in a cemetary in Gettysburg. My landlord at that time had a couple of dozen large flatbed trucks with hydraulic booms mounted that they used to deliver vaults and lower into the graves after the funeral. He felt (at least this is the explanation I was given) that none of his trucks could make the trip to WV and back without a big risk of breakdown. I had a couple of brand new Mitsubishi 14' cargo vans for delivering and installing our custom cabinetry, and he asked if he could borrow one to relocate the vault in WV. I complied with his wish, but with the stipulation that I drive the truck (I knew all his drivers and had no wish for them to wreck, er, I mean, drive, any truck of mine, especially on a trip that would be over 12 hours (these diesel engines have a governor restricting them to 4000 rpm - 60 mph max) each way! Long story short, I got to visit Gettysburg, even though on a somber mission. In fact, my landlord actually had booked our rooms at this particular Inn because he knew of a funeral parlor in the basement, refurbed as an historical site just as it was back in the day (I did not go downstairs - not my cup of tea).
Here we are in present day, two guys a good days ride apart, connected only by a common interest in BBQ grilling over the long reaching arms of the Internet, chatting about a menu item that you had grown fond of, found in an Inn that we have both had occasion to visit! Small world!
I don't remember if they had pickled watermelon on the menu that day, but I do know they had several assorted excellent home made pastries that were to die for! But I am interested in this watermelon item you describe, I'm printing out the recipe and will try it myself. Here in NJ we have some of the best watermelon in the country, but I've only eaten the inside, always discarding the rind. Okay, time to use the entire melon, thanks to your input!
Our world grows closer! Mike
Years ago, I'm not sure how many but it was quite a while back, I had the opportunity to get down to West Virginia. I was there with my company truck, a large 14' cargo box van on a delicate mission along with my landlord who owned the building I was in at the time. I was not sure where or what our route was, my landlord had plotted the entire trip down and back, but we stayed in Gettysburg. Guess where? You got it, the Farnsworth Inn! I don't recall much about it other than my landlord trying to scare me with tall tales of how the Inn was haunted! I do recall it was very hot, I was quite uncomfortable and spent a very sleepless night there. But the building was amazing with all the reenactment of earlier times at this place, there was quite a lot of memorabilia from the Civil War days. Being as we weren't there on pleasure, I could not enjoy researching and visiting as a tourist normally would, but I was taken aback with the enourmous splendor and history of the place.
A quick explanation is due: my landlord years ago was the owner of a burial vault and monument stone business. A woman had lost her son a year prior in a motorcycle accident, and her husband had just died then, a year later. She decided she wanted to move back to her roots and be near her side of the family, they lived in Gettysburg. So, she had my landlord exume the burial vault and wished for her son to be relocated in a cemetary in Gettysburg. My landlord at that time had a couple of dozen large flatbed trucks with hydraulic booms mounted that they used to deliver vaults and lower into the graves after the funeral. He felt (at least this is the explanation I was given) that none of his trucks could make the trip to WV and back without a big risk of breakdown. I had a couple of brand new Mitsubishi 14' cargo vans for delivering and installing our custom cabinetry, and he asked if he could borrow one to relocate the vault in WV. I complied with his wish, but with the stipulation that I drive the truck (I knew all his drivers and had no wish for them to wreck, er, I mean, drive, any truck of mine, especially on a trip that would be over 12 hours (these diesel engines have a governor restricting them to 4000 rpm - 60 mph max) each way! Long story short, I got to visit Gettysburg, even though on a somber mission. In fact, my landlord actually had booked our rooms at this particular Inn because he knew of a funeral parlor in the basement, refurbed as an historical site just as it was back in the day (I did not go downstairs - not my cup of tea).
Here we are in present day, two guys a good days ride apart, connected only by a common interest in BBQ grilling over the long reaching arms of the Internet, chatting about a menu item that you had grown fond of, found in an Inn that we have both had occasion to visit! Small world!
I don't remember if they had pickled watermelon on the menu that day, but I do know they had several assorted excellent home made pastries that were to die for! But I am interested in this watermelon item you describe, I'm printing out the recipe and will try it myself. Here in NJ we have some of the best watermelon in the country, but I've only eaten the inside, always discarding the rind. Okay, time to use the entire melon, thanks to your input!
Our world grows closer! Mike
Mike:
It is a small world ...
My daughter is staying at the Farnsworth Inn this weekend, as we type. That's what inspired my wife to make the pickles.
I love Gettysburg ... My brother-in-law is a battlefield guide, and my daughter taught classes at Gettysburg College last summer. We have been going there since the kids were small ... I don't know if I've mentioned my "other" hobby ... its Civil War Reenacting.
Reenacting sparked our interest in "open hearth cooking" and 19th century cooking.
Billy Goat in WV
QUOTE (Billy Goat @ Jul 15 2007, 12:47 PM)
Mike:
It is a small world ...
My daughter is staying at the Farnsworth Inn this weekend, as we type. That's what inspired my wife to make the pickles.
I love Gettysburg ... My brother-in-law is a battlefield guide, and my daughter taught classes at Gettysburg College last summer. We have been going there since the kids were small ... I don't know if I've mentioned my "other" hobby ... its Civil War Reenacting.
Reenacting sparked our interest in "open hearth cooking" and 19th century cooking.
Billy Goat in WV
It is a small world ...
My daughter is staying at the Farnsworth Inn this weekend, as we type. That's what inspired my wife to make the pickles.
I love Gettysburg ... My brother-in-law is a battlefield guide, and my daughter taught classes at Gettysburg College last summer. We have been going there since the kids were small ... I don't know if I've mentioned my "other" hobby ... its Civil War Reenacting.
Reenacting sparked our interest in "open hearth cooking" and 19th century cooking.
Billy Goat in WV
Billy Goat,
Then you'd probably love Washington's Crossing (different war, but similar settings) on the Delaware River, 45 minutes west of me! We've been out there on the Jersey side of the river sipping on some cool ones as we view the reenactment soldiers perform their march and artillery weapons display once a year. Somewhere I've got a couple of videos of it. They actually load up on boats, cross the river and engage into battle. From our side you can barely hear the muffled shot's, but you can see the puffs of smoke from the muskets as they fire, reload, and fire again, repeatedly! Amazing how they would line up in such perfect lines, resplendent in bright red and blue uniforms, unafraid and courageously facing life shells ('course not in this reenactment) without wavering, standing tall and proud! Very colorful and exciting, I'm proud to see the flags blowing in the wind and hear the bugles belting out their commands.
But, eventually you walk away in a somber and quiet mood as you reflect on how this really happened 200 years back, enabling us to be here today with the liberties and rights we all enjoy. An historical event that shakes the soul as you realize the sacrifices made so that future generations could breathe the air of freedom and democracy!
And, a rightful insertion of this topic here as there are hundreds of people sitting around on picnic blankets, coolers and portable barbecue's scattered about, the wondrous scents and aroma's of hot dogs, hamburgers and bbq'd chicken lazily meandering around the crowds as they watch the performance unrolling across this vast and beautiful Delaware River!
Billy Goat, you've enlightened us with your sense of national spirit, only true patriots take such pleasure in hobbies such as this, repast with all the honor and historical implications that give muse to our past! Happy to be of your acquaintance! Honored, Mike
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.