Crabapple Jam Food

CRAB APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash the crab apples. Remove the stalks and cut off the bottom and any bad parts.
• Put the crab apples in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for approximately half an hour.
• Strain the pulp. Crab apple jelly is normally strained through muslin, which results in a clear jelly and leave it overnight.
• Measure the juice and add the sugar. To every 4 cups of juice add 3 cups of sugar. Squeeze the lemon and add to the juice and sugar. Boil the jelly. Skim off any white froth that forms on the surface - this is the stuff that makes the jelly cloudy - so the more you can get rid of, the clearer your jelly will be.
• Once the jelly starts the thicken, test it every couple of minutes on the back of a cold spoon. If it sets, it's ready. Pour into sterilised jars and seal.
• Tightly seal while still slightly warm. Store in a cool, dark and dry place.
• 250g or 8.oz will make approximately 200ml, 6.7 fl oz of jelly).

CRAB APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash and drain the fruit, then cut the apples in half and add to a large, heavy-based saucepan with an equal quantity of water and the pared lemon zest. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20-25 mins until the apples are pulpy. Stir occasionally using the back of a wooden spoon to help break down the fruit.
• Remove from the heat and allow to cool a little. Place the fruit pulp in a jelly bag and allow the juice to drip through into a large bowl (this will take several hours, so doing this overnight is ideal). If you force the fruit through, this will create a cloudy jelly.
• Put two small, sterilised saucers in the freezer - you will use these to test the setting point of the jam. You can sterilise the saucers by washing them in hot soapy liquid, rinsing and placing in an oven at 180C/160C fan/gas 4 for 5 mins. Remove carefully and allow to cool.
• Weigh the fruity liquid and return to a large saucepan. Weigh three quarters of sugar to your total liquid amount (for example, if you have 400g of liquid, add 300g of sugar).
• Add the sugar to the juice with the lemon juice, and stir over a medium heat until completely dissolved. Turn up the heat and bring the fruit to the boil. Stir occasionally and allow to boil hard for about 8 mins, removing any scum with a spoon. If using a thermometer, you're looking to reach 105c. If not, check the setting point of the liquid after 8 mins by removing a saucer from the freezer and adding a teaspoon of the liquid to the plate. Allow to sit for a minute, then push your finger through the liquid. If it starts to wrinkle, the jelly is ready. If not, return to the boil and try again after another minute.
• Pour into sterilised jars and allow to cool completely. Store in a cool, dark place.

CRABAPPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash your crab apples to remove critters and any dirt.
• Throw out any rotten or bad ones, remove leaves and any woody stuff.
• But leave them whole no need to remove centers etc -- (waste of time).
• Put in large pot 2/3 full otherwise it will boil over.
• Fill pot till all the apples float.
• Heat on Med. heat till boiling, once they boil cook for 2-3 hours.
• Strain the mixture through cheese cloth keeping the liquid, thats gonna be our jelly.
• If you want you can make crabapple cheese with the solids ( but were here to make jelly).
• Measure the liquid as best you can for every 1 L of liquid you will need 1 kg of sugar.
• Add sugar to liquid in a pot, and stir till boiling then reduce heat but keep it low rolling boil for about 10-15 minute.
• Then you can reduce heat to low.
• On a small plate take your stir stick or wooden spoon and drizzel a few drops of the liquid allowing it to cool. keep doing this till it jells.
• When it jells you are ready to start canning (see pic's).

CRABAPPLE JAM

Steps:

• Cook crabapples in 2 cups water until they begin to pop (about 20 minutes).
• Press the cooked crabapples through a sieve or food mill.
• In a large saucepan or kettle, combine pulp, lemon juice, apple juice and water.
• Add honey.
• Bring to a rolling boil; boil 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• When the jam starts to "sheet" from the edge of the spoon it has begun to jell.
• Remove from heat.
• Pour into sterilized jars, seal, and process 10 minutes in boiling water bath.