Babas Guava Jelly Food

GUAVA JELLY

Steps:

• Dice guavas into one inch cubes.
• Place in a large saucepan and cover with just enough water to cover the fruit well.
• Cover and cook till guavas are very tender, about half an hour.
• Cool.
• Cover a large bowl with a muslin cloth and invert fruit onto the cloth taking care to catch the liquid that drips through the muslin, into the bowl.
• Gather the four ends of the cloth and tie a knot and hang this'bag' for about four hours and collect all the drippings into the bowl.
• LIGHTLY squeeze out any juice left in the cloth.
• Discard pulp.
• Measure the liquid.
• For every cup of liquid add one cup of sugar and one tablespoon of lemon juice.
• (Eg. if there are four cups of liquid you would need to add four cups of sugar and four tablespoons of lime/lemon juice.) Put this mixture back on fire and bring to a boil.
• Lower heat and cook, stirring constantly (as the liquid tends to boil over), till the liquid starts coating the spoon thickly and the juice/jelly drips from the spoon in jointed drops.
• Let stand for half an hour and pour into jars while still warm.
• Cover and seal.

BABA'S GUAVA JELLY

Steps:

• Select guavas that are slightly under ripe. Wash, trim stem ends and cut in half.
• Put in large kettle and add water until it shows through the fruit.
• Cook gently until guavas are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Strain through colander into an enamel bowl (I suspect glass is OK).
• Stain the juice through linen (an old napkin will work) tying the ends up so it can hand over the spigot in the sink and drip into the enamel bowl overnight.
• Make the jelly in small batches. Place juice, lemon and sugar into an appropriate sized pot. A large one is good so it can boil quickly.
• Stir the mixture at first, until the sugar has dissolved.
• After the jelly comes to a full boil, let it cook for 18 minutes or until the jelly test done.
• Pour into sterilized jars, seal and use safe canning methodology.

SURE.JELL GUAVA JELLY

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.
• Cut guavas into thin slices; place in 4-qt. saucepan. Add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min. Thoroughly crush cooked guavas. Place three 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 4-1/2 cups juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. Add food coloring.
• Stir pectin 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 sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle quickly 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.)

TANGY GUAVA JELLY

Steps:

• Place juice and pectin in a large stainless steal pot and bring to a quick boil.
• Add sugar and bring back to a boil and boil hard for 1 minute,, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, skim, ladle into hot, clean jars and seal.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
• Guava juice-wash 2 quarts of guavas, remove blossom end and cut into slices.
• Add water to cover, bring to a boil, and boil gently for 15 minutes.
• Strain through a jelly bag.
• Reheat juice to boiling and pour into clean hot jars.
• Seal.