Apple Thyme Jelly Food

APPLE THYME JELLY

Steps:

• Combine the cider, sugar and thyme in a 4-quart microwave-safe bowl, and
• stir well.
• Cook, uncovered, at full power (650 to 700 watts) for 10 minutes. Stir,
• return to the microwave, and cook until the sugar has dissolved and the
• mixture has reached a full rolling boil, about 5 more minutes.
• Stir the pectin into the mixture, return it to the microwave, and cook for
• 1 1/2 minutes.
• Skim any foam off the surface, and pack the jelly into sterilized jars
• according to the manufacturer's directions. This recipe yields 4 half-pints.
• Comments: A delicate flavor -- just perfect for glazing a simple lamb or
• pork roast.

SUNNY'S IT'S APPLE THYME! GLAZED BACON

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the jelly, thyme, cinnamon sugar, liquid smoke, apples, a tiny pinch of salt and several grinds of coarse black pepper. Set aside.
• Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil and lay the bacon strips on top. Set the oven to 400 degrees F and place the bacon in the oven as it preheats. Bake until most of the fat is rendered, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and use paper towels to blot as much excess fat as possible.
• Place a wire rack on the baking sheet and lay the bacon back on top. Brush or scoop the glaze over the bacon. Bake until the apple bits are golden and the bacon is crisp, an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Cut the apples into 1-inch pieces without peeling or coring, but discard any damaged or spoiled spots.
• Place the apples in a large nonreactive pot and pour in 8 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat to maintain a simmer and cook without stirring until the apples soften, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Set a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a muslin bag over another large pot, and pour the contents of the pot into the sieve. Do not press on the apples to prevent the jelly from becoming cloudy. You should have at least 7 cups of juice. Some apple varieties absorb more water and may need 2 to 8 hours for the juice to naturally strain out. If that's the case, refrigerate the pot.
• Place a small plate in the freezer to use for testing the setting point of the jelly. Set the pot with the juice over medium-high heat. (Discard the fruit.) Add the sugar and lemon juice, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, skimming and discarding any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the liquid reduces by about three-quarters and a candy or deep-fry thermometer registers 225 degrees, 40 to 50 minutes. To test for doneness, spoon a small amount of liquid onto the cold plate from the freezer and return to the freezer to cool completely, about 2 minutes. Drag a spoon through the jelly. The setting point has been reached if it wrinkles and the wrinkles hold their shape. If they don't, continue to cook the jelly and test every few minutes on the cold plate.
• Once the jelly is done cooking, add the salt, stir to dissolve and adjust with more lemon juice, if needed, for a nice balance of sweet and tart with a floral taste. Ladle the hot liquid into clean, sanitized jars, screw on the lids and follow steps to can, or allow to cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

APPLE JELLY RECIPE

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain jars well before filling.
• Remove stems and blossom ends from apples. Cut apples into small pieces. (Do not peel or core.) Place in large saucepan; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally. Crush cooked apples; cover and simmer 5 min. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or a jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 5 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
• Stir sugar into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

ROSEMARY-THYME APPLE PIE

Steps:

• Whisk flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Fill a 1-cup liquid measuring cup with water. Drop in 3 ice cubes; set aside.
• Remove butter and flour mixture from freezer. Grate butter into the flour mixture quickly. Toss using a spatula or an electric mixer to incorporate the grated butter. Drizzle 1/2 cup ice water into the bowl and mix, adding a little more water at a time until dough begins to form large clumps. Gather and lightly knead clumps of dough together into a mound using your hands.
• Divide dough in 1/2 and wrap each portion separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to bake, roll dough out on a lightly floured surface and place bottom crust into a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out second crust and slice dough into long, 3/4-inch wide strips using a rotary pizza cutter.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Fill bottom pie crust with apples. Cover with dough strips, weaving into a lattice crust; crimp edges to seal. Place pie in the refrigerator.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar, water, rosemary, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat quickly and let simmer until rosemary and thyme are very aromatic and sauce has thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Take pie out of the refrigerator and gently and slowly pour caramelized liquid over the crust, distributing it as evenly as possible so that some liquid gets into all openings of the lattice.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Continue baking until apples are soft, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove pie from the oven and let cool on a wire rack before serving.

APPLE AND ROSEMARY JELLY

Steps:

• Combine the apples, lemon juice and zest in a large saucepan. Cover with 1 litre of water, bring to the boil over a medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour.
• Transfer the mixture to a muslin-lined fine sieve and strain into a bowl, discarding the pulp. This should yield about 2 cups of liquid.
• Combine the liquid and sugar in a large saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar and cook for 15-20 minutes. Test whether the jelly is set. If not, return to the heat and test after 5 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, stand for 10 minutes, then skim the film from the surface. Add the rosemary and ladle into clean, dry jars. Seal the lids, invert jars for 2 minutes, then turn upright and cool completely. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.