A recipe for homemade Viagra

It made the news when researchers found that watermelons could have viagra like effects. But, it's only the rind of the watermelon that contains the nutrient citrulline that relaxes blood vessels. Here's a recipe for pickled watermelon rind. A friend who works here at the station, Cathy Simonds, likes to make the pickled watermelon. She says it's great with smoked turkey. She got the recipe from "Southern Living" a while ago and recommends we give it a try.

RECIPE FOR PICKLED WATERMELON RINDS

• 1 Large watermelon, quartered
• 3/4 cup salt
• 3 quarts water
• 2 quarts ice cubes
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon whole allspice
• 9 cups sugar
• 3 cups white vinegar (5% acidity)
• 3 cups water
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 5 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks

PEEL watermelon; remove pulp, and reserve for another use. Cut rind into 1 inch cubes; reserve 12 cups rind cubes in a large container.

STIR together salt and 3 quarts water; pour over rind.

ADD ice to rind mixture; cover and let stand 8 hours. Rinse well, and drain.

COOK rind and water to cover in a dutch oven over high heat 10 minutes or until tender.

Drain.

PLACE cloves and allspice on a 3 inch square of cheesecloth; tie with a string.

STIR together sugar, vinegar, and 3 cups water; add spice bag, and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes, and pour over rind. Stir in lemon slices. Cover and let stand 8 hours.

BRING rind and syrup mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Discard spice bag.

PACK rind mixture into hot jars, filling to 1/2 inch from top. Add 1 cinnamon stick to each jar. Remove air bubbles; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw on bands.

PROCESS in boiling-water bath 0 minutes.

YIELD: 5 (12-ounce) jars

FROM SOUTHERN LIVING