Sweet & Spicy Southern Melon Cubes

Total Time: 4 hrs Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 cups vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon whole allspice
• 1 teaspoon slivered whole fresh nutmeg
• 13 cups cantaloupe, cubes 1 inch sized
• 4 1/2 cups sugar

Recipe

• 1 combine vinegar and water in a large saucepot; tie spices into a spice bag (cheesecloth or even 2 coffee filters tied at the end works fine) and add to vinegar mixture.
• 2 bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for five minutes.
• 3 remove from heat and add the melon; let stand for two hours.
• 4 add the sugar; bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• 5 reduce heat; simmer until cantaloupe becomes somewhat transparent, stirring periodically to make sure all the melon gets submerged in the liquid.
• 6 pack hot melon into waiting hot half pint jars, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace then ladle hot pickling liquid over melon, leaving a 1/4 inch headspace.
• 7 remove air bubbles and process for ten minutes in a boiling water bath.
• 8 note- you can sub an equal amount of pickling spice for the spices listed. the flavor will be slightly different but still good (i'd suggest using a bit extra cinnamon though if you do that). also, you can simply make small melon balls instead of going to the trouble of cubing it.