Ball Red Pepper Jelly Food

RED PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Place red peppers, sugar and vinegar in kettle; heat rapidly to boiling, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat, let stand 15 minutes.
• Reheat to boiling, add lemon juice.
• Let it come to a boil, then add the pectin.
• Boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Bottle as any jelly.

RED PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Line a sieve with cheese cloth, put over a large measuring jug or a saucepan, and set aside OR get a jelly bag ready.
• Core and seed the red peppers, cut into large chunks, put into food processor along with 100 ml (1/2 cup / 4 oz ) of the cranberry juice and using the pulse button, whiz into fine chunks, but not into a paste or purée.
• Empty the food processor contents into a medium-sized saucepan. Add the remaining juice (that's 775 ml / 3 cups / 24 oz, if you are tracking the math ) and the teaspoon of red pepper flakes. Bring to a rolling boil.
• Remove from burner immediately.
• Pour into jelly-bag or cheesecloth-lined sieve from step 1. Let stand for 1 to 2 hours.
• Discard contents of the sieve.
• From the jug or saucepan, measure out 1 litre (4 cups) of liquid.
• Put liquid into another saucepan. Whisk in the cardamom (if using), the pectin, and the vinegar.
• Return the saucepan to the burner. Add the margarine if using.
• If using STEVIA: Bring to a full rolling boil over the heat and when it reaches that point, start timing 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add stevia to taste.
• If using SPLENDA or SUGAR: Bring to a full rolling boil over the heat and when it reaches that point, start timing 1 minute. Add in Splenda, bring back to a boil that you can't stir down, and boil for 1 minute after that point. Remove from heat.
• Add a few drops of red food colouring if desired for a deeper glowing colour (if you use red cranberry juice, you probably don't need it.)
• Ladle into either 125 ml (1/2 cup) or quarter-litre (1/2 US pint) jars.
• Leave 1 cm (1/4 inch) headspace.
• Debubble, adjust headspace.
• Wipe jar rims.
• Put lids on.
• Process in a water bath or steam canner.
• Process either size jar for 10 minutes; increase time as needed for your altitude.

RED PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine red bell peppers and red pepper flakes. Pulse until very finely chopped.
• Combine bell pepper mixture, sugar, vinegar, butter, and salt in a heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat. Boil mixture for 10 to 15 minutes (the longer it boils the thicker it will be - 10 minutes will give you a very loose jelly; 15 minutes will give you a more spreadable consistency). The jelly will thicken as it cools, so don't worry if it seems loose right after boiling.
• Divide jelly between jars, leaving at least 1/3-inch of headspace at the top (this is especially important if you are planning to freeze the jelly because it will expand as it freezes).
• Let jelly come to room temperature and then add lids.
• Refrigerate or freeze jelly until ready to use. (Jelly will keep for several weeks in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer.)

EASY SPICY RED PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Combine the preserves, bell peppers, red pepper flakes, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender; puree until smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a brisk simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until thickened and syrupy, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a jar and cool completely. Refrigerate for up to 1 week.

EASY RED PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Sterilize canning jars and set aside.
• Prepare all peppers by seeding and mincing.
• Place peppers in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add apple cider vinegar and powdered Pectin.
• Bring heat to high and stir constantly until you reach a rolling boil. Remove from heat once you reach a rolling boil.
• Mix in sugar and return to pan to high heat.
• Return to a rolling boil and let boil for 1 minute.
• Fill jars with jelly until it reaches 1/4" from the top of the jar.
• Screw lids on jars and place in a large pot filled with hot water. Be sure jars are completely submerged.
• Heat water with jars over high heat until it reaches a rolling boil, then boil for 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and let jars sit in water until cool.
• Check seals by pressing down on the center of the lid when cool. If the lid pops when pushed, it can be stored at room temperature, otherwise store in the refrigerator.
• Pour jelly over cream cheese and serve with crackers.

RED PEPPER JELLY SPREAD

Steps:

• Place cream cheese on microwaveable plate; top with jelly.
• Microwave on HIGH 45 sec. to 1 min. or until cream cheese is slightly softened.
• Sprinkle with cilantro.

HABANERO APRICOT JELLY

Steps:

• Using a food processor, finely mince the diced apricots.
• Place the apricots in a large stainless steel stockpot, add the vinegar and cover. Let the apricots soak in the vinegar for at least 4 hours (can be left to sit overnight if you'd like, but 4 hours will do the trick).
• Using a food processor, finely mince the red bell pepper and habanero peppers.
• Place the apricots, vinegar, peppers, and sugar in a large stainless steel stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to make sure all the sugar dissolves.
• Once the mixture has reached a full rolling boil (a boil you can not stir down), it will double in size. Stirring constantly, keep at a full boil for one minute.
• Remove from heat and whisk in pectin and continue to stir for 3 minutes - this helps to evenly distribute the apricot and pepper pieces throughout the jelly.
• Ladle the jelly into sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with damp paper towels to remove any jelly which got on the rims or the threads. Place the lids and the bands on the jars, just tightening the bands fingertip tight.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes, then remove and let sit, undisturbed, for at least 12 hours before checking seals. It is important to let them sit undisturbed for 12 hours because the sealing compound on the lids is still cooling and hardening, completing the seal. While the jars cool, you will hear a "plink" type sound from each jar - this is the jars completing the vacuum seal as the final air escapes the jar. After 12 hours have passed, remove the bands and check the lids - press down in the center of the lid. If you cannot push the lid down any further, the jar is sealed. If the lid "gives" a bit, and you can push it down, the jar did not seal. You can either put the band back on the jar, and reprocess it for another 5 minutes, or you can just put it in the fridge and use it within 3 months.

HOT PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Sterilize 6 (8 ounce) canning jars and lids according to manufacturer's instructions. Heat water in a hot water canner.
• Place red bell peppers, green bell peppers, and jalapeno peppers in a large saucepan over high heat. Mix in vinegar and fruit pectin. Stirring constantly, bring mixture to a full rolling boil. Quickly stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil, and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and skim off any foam.
• Quickly ladle jelly into sterile jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the tops. Cover with flat lids, and screw on bands tightly.
• Place jars in rack, and slowly lower jars into canner. The water should cover the jars completely, and should be hot but not boiling. Bring water to a boil, and process for 5 minutes.

SPICY RED-PEPPER JELLY

Steps:

• Sterilize jars and lids:
• Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw bands. Put empty jars on a rack in a boiling-water canner or a deep 8- to 10-quart pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. Remove canner from heat, leaving jars in water, covered. Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat. Keep jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.
• Make jelly:
• Pulse bell peppers with red-pepper flakes in a food processor until finely chopped. (Mixture will measure about 2 1/2 cups.)
• Whisk together pectin and 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.
• Stir together pepper mixture, vinegar, butter, salt, and remaining 3 cups sugar in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat, then continue to boil vigorously, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Gradually add pectin mixture, whisking constantly. Return jelly to a vigorous boil, stirring constantly, and boil, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes (mixture will thicken slightly). Remove from heat.
• Carefully remove jars and lids with canning tongs, then drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel and quickly dry lids. Invert jars and immediately ladle hot jelly into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top. (Last jar may not be full.) Run a clean plastic spatula between jelly and sides of jars to eliminate air bubbles. Wipe off rims of filled jars with a damp clean kitchen towel, then firmly screw on lids with screw bands.
• Seal and process jars:
• Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. (If you have a jar that is partially full, do not process it. Cover it with a lid and screw band, then keep in refrigerator.) Bring to a full boil, covered, then boil jelly, covered, 15 minutes. Transfer jars with canning tongs to a towel-lined surface to cool. Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, that means that the vacuum formed above the cooling jelly has made the lid concave. Remember that you may or may not be around to hear the ping. The important thing is for the jars to eventually have concave lids. Jelly will thicken as it cools.
• After jars have cooled, 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it's concave, then remove screw band and try to lift lid with your fingertips. If you can't, the lid has a good seal. Replace screw band. Put any jars that haven't sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first (along with jar that was only partially full).