Work Inside and Out - Watermelon Jelly

I was up early, like every morning, and decided to weed whack the back of the property and around the garden boxes before the sun was out in full force this morning. I didn’t get as much as I wanted accomplished, the battery died, and I failed to charge the second one. After putting the weed whacker back in the garage, I decided I was going to pick up garbage around the property; anything that flew in, like trash or dead branches.  I pulled dead flowers (from the wretched heat) out of several flower pots, and racked up several patches of straw.  By this time, I was ready to go inside.  Temperatures were peaking beyond 100 degrees.

Since the weekend is around the corner, I tackled all of our laundry, cleaned the refrigerator, vacuumed the house, and then made some Watermelon Jelly.  I might as well, we have ½ a full-size watermelon left, and I truly didn’t want to see it go to waste (because we couldn’t eat it fast enough). 

Watermelon Jelly

6 cups of watermelon juice

2 cups of sugar

4 tablespoons of lemon juice

1 complete package of liquid pectin

Take the seeds out of the watermelon (I put all of my watermelon in a blender, including the seeds).  Press the liquid button.  Strain your watermelon juice from pulp and seeds by using cheese cloth inside a strainer. Place the strained watermelon juice in a pot (stainless steel). Add sugar and lemon juice, stir continuously.  Make sure the sugar dissolves into the liquid, keep stirring, and bring to a rolling boil.  Add liquid pectin, keep stirring, and make sure you bring the mixture back to a rolling boil for 1 complete minute.  Remove from burner and ladle out any foam.  Now you’re ready to spoon watermelon juice mixture into your sterilized jars.  Leave ¼ inch head space and process in water bath for 10 minutes.  This jelly will make 6 half pint jars.

Place Watermelon in Blender Turn into Liquid

Strain Juice From Pulp and Seeds

Place Watermelon Juice, Sugar,  and Lemon in Pot.  Bring to Boil!!! Than Add Pectin (Keep Stirring and Allow to Boil 1 Minute).  Spoon off the Foam.

Spoon Into  Hot Sterilized Jars



Remove Air Bubbles From Jars



Wipe Glass Rim With A Clean Wet Cloth



Place Sterile Lid On Jar



Attach Rim

Process in a Water Bath For 10 Minutes

Remove From Water Bath, Sit on Towel  and Cover From Draft for 24 hours.
Make Sure Your Lids Pop (Seal), Label and Store.

To my surprise, last night Bulldog Man (Hubby) came home from work with a bouquet of beautiful flowers.  I think he knew Mama wasn’t feeling well.