Hold On To Summer For Months By Making Taste Of Home’s Watermelon Jelly

You can feel a little nip in the air.  Fall is right around the corner and soon we'll be shoveling the white stuff and putting up the holiday lights.  But, with Taste of Home's Watermelon Jelly in the house you can be capitulated back to those lazy, hazy summer days in a single bite!

Make enough to give a taste of summer as a holiday gift!  Here's how:

INGREDIENTS

• 6 cups seeded chopped watermelon
• 5 cups sugar
• 1/3 cup white wine vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional
• 2 pouches (3 ounces each) liquid fruit pectin

DIRECTIONS

Puree your watermelon in a food processor. Line a strainer with four layers of cheesecloth and place over a bowl. Place pureed watermelon in prepared strainer; cover with edges of cheesecloth. Let stand 10 minutes or until liquid measures 2 cups.

You can throw the watermelon pulp from cheesecloth away, then place liquid in a large saucepan. Stir in sugar, vinegar, lemon juice and food coloring (if desired). Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Continue to boil 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat, skimming off the foam. Ladle hot mixture into five hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. head space. Remove air bubbles and adjust head space, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight.

Carefully place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool. Yield: 5 half-pints.