Bronze Scuppernong Jelly Food

SCUPPERNONG JELLY

Steps:

• Wash the fruit and remove the stems. Place the fruit in a large bowl, and using your hands, a fork, or a potato masher, squeeze the grapes. Place the fruit in a large, stainless steel or enamel pot, and using your hands, mash until no large pieces of fruit remain. Add just enough water to keep the mixture from sticking (see page 295) and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to low, and simmer until very juicy, about 20 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a jelly bag (see page 293) and allow to hang over a bowl for at least 6 hours or overnight. Measure the juice; you should have about 8 cups.
• When you are ready to make the jelly, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Place several small plates in the freezer to use later to test the consistency of the jelly.
• Sterilize eight 1/2-pint canning jars and lids in boiling water, following the manufacturer's instructions (or see Boiling-Water Canning, page 279). Remove the jars from the water and place upside down to drain on the prepared rack. Remove the lids from the water and dry with a clean towel. Turn the sterilized jars right side up on the rack, using tongs or a kitchen towel to protect your hands. When they are cool enough to handle, dry them with a clean towel. Set aside.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the scuppernong juice (you should have about 16 cups, or 4 quarts), sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Follow the procedure for Raspberry Jam (page 289), including ringing the scuppernong mixture to a boil and cooking until the mixture reaches the jelling point, preparing the canner, filling the jars and boiling them gently for 5 minutes, and checking that the seals on the jars are good. Store the unopened jars of jam at room temperature for up to 1 year. Once the jam is opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• variation
• For refrigerator or freezer jam, transfer the mixture to sterilized freezer-safe plastic containers or freezer-safe jars with lids, leaving 1 inch of headroom. Freeze for up to 1 year or refrigerate for up to 1 month.
• jelly bag
• A jelly bag is used for straining pressed juice when making jelly. It may be made of several thicknesses of cheesecloth, or of cotton flannel or firm unbleached muslin. These are available online and in some hardware stores and gourmet shops. Meme used to use an old cotton pillowcase. When making jelly, it is important not to squeeze the fruit. Let the fruit hang in the jelly bag and slowly drip out into a bowl. Squeezing the mixture will produce cloudy juice, which makes for cloudy jelly.

BRONZE SCUPPERNONG JELLY

Steps:

• Place scuppernongs in large dutch oven and pour in water.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
• Take potato masher and mash fruit.
• Drain through cheese cloth.
• This should yield around 5 cups of juice, you may have a little over or under.
• If you have under, add water to bring up to 5 cups.
• Measure sugar into a separate bowl and set aside until needed.
• Place the juice in large boiler with the box of pectin.
• Bring to a full rolling boil.
• Be sure that it is a full boil that cannot be stirred down.
• Add sugar all at once.
• Bring back to a full rolling boil.
• Again be sure that it is a full boil that cannot be stirred down.
• Boil for 1 minute after reaching the full rolling stage.
• Remove from heat.
• Pour into jars that have been sterilized and preheated.
• Wipe rims of jars with a clean, wet, warm dishtowel.
• Place lids on jars and tighten rings.
• Process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.
• Remove from hot water and allow to cool completely before storing in pantry.

WHITE ZINFANDEL 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 the flat lids in saucepan off the heat.
• Let sand in hot water until ready to use.
• Measure the wine into a 6 or 8 quart saucepan.
• Stir pectin into wine in the saucepan.
• Add butter (if desired) to reduce foaming.
• Bring mixture to a full rolling boil (a boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred) on high leat, stirring constantly.
• Stir in all sugar quickly.
• Bring to full rolling boil and allow to boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/8" of rim.
• Wipe jar rims and threads.
• Screw bands tightly.
• Place jars on elevated rack in canner.
• Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches, add boiling water if needed.
• Cover, bring to a gentle boil and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely.
• After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger, if it springs back, it did not seal completely and refrigeration would be necessary.