Cranberry Grappa Jelly Food

JELLIED CRANBERRY-GRAPE SAUCE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the grapes and bay leaves and cook, stirring occasionally, until the grapes begin to split, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the cranberries and stir to coat. Add the sugar, grape juice, 1/2 cup water and a pinch of salt.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. (If the berries aren't bursting after 15 minutes, gently smash with a spatula.)
• Discard the bay leaves. Transfer the cranberry sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart dish. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours and up to 1 week.

CRANBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Put the cranberries in a saucepan. Remove wide strips of zest from 1/2 orange with a peeler; add to the saucepan with the juice of both oranges (about 1/2 cup). Add the sugar, coriander, a pinch of salt and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer over medium heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the sauce thickens, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and remove the orange zest; stir in the vanilla. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a serving dish, pushing the sauce through with a rubber spatula. Refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours.

CRANBERRY GRAPPA JELLY

Steps:

• Bring cranberries, sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, and 3/4 cup grappa to a boil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then briskly simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until most of berries have burst and mixture is thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain through a large fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart measuring cup or a bowl, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. (You will need 2 1/2 cups liquid.)
• Stir together gelatin and remaining 1/4 cup water and let stand 1 minute to soften. Bring 1 cup drained cranberry liquid to a simmer in a small saucepan, then add gelatin mixture and stir until just dissolved. Add gelatin mixture and remaining 1/4 cup grappa to remaining 1 1/2 cups cranberry liquid and stir well. Pour cranberry sauce into lightly oiled mold and chill, covered with plastic wrap, until firmly set, at least 12 hours.
• To unmold, dip mold in a large bowl of warm water (water should reach halfway up mold) for 5 seconds, then run tip of a thin knife around edge of mold. Tilt mold sideways and tap side against a counter, turning it, to evenly break seal and loosen jelly. Keeping mold tilted, put a plate over mold, then invert jelly onto plate.

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Combine fruit and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, mashing occasionally with a potato masher, until fruit is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to a fine sieve set over a heatproof bowl; let drain without pressing on fruit, 4 hours. Strain again through sieve lined with damp cheesecloth. Measure juice; you will have 3 to 4 cups.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, bring juice to a boil. Add 3/4 cup sugar for each cup of juice. Add lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Return to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, 8 to 12 minutes. To test if jelly is done, dip a large metal spoon in, lift it horizontally above pot, and let mixture drip back in. Jelly is done when mixture has thickened slightly and drops of it slide together off spoon in a sheet. (Temperature should register 221 degrees on a candy thermometer.) Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jelly into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• First make the grape juice using clean washed grapes.
• To 3 1/2 pounds of clean grapes add 1 1/2 cups water.
• Bring to a boil and simmer covered for 10 minutes.
• Strain and squeeze out all of the juice with a jelly cloth, or whatever means you have.
• In a very big pan, put 5 cups of the juice.
• Add the fruit pectin to the juice.
• Mix well.
• On high heat, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat, skim off foam and pour into hot jars.
• If using paraffin, pour hot paraffin in on top of jelly.
• Or seal with canning lids.

CRANBERRY GINGER JELLY

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, sugar, ginger, and 2 cups water in a medium saucepan. Cover, and bring to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, until berries have burst and softened, about 10 minutes. Pass through a sieve into a medium bowl, pressing on solids with a wooden spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids.
• Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup water in a bowl. Let soften 5 minutes. Add cranberry mixture; stir until gelatin has dissolved. Refrigerate, in an airtight container, at least 4 hours (or up to 1 week).

CRANBERRY & CLEMENTINE JELLY

Steps:

• Tip the berries and clementines into a preserving pan, and pour in 1 litre of water. Gently heat, stirring frequently, for 30 mins until the berries are soft. As the mixture softens, lightly crush to release all the juice from the berries. You can do this with a potato masher.
• Cool the mixture, then tip it into a jelly bag suspended over a large bowl, or into a large plastic sieve lined with muslin. You need a plastic sieve, as the acidity in the fruit will affect anything metal. Leave overnight so that the juices run through.
• The next day, measure the liquid. You should end up with 1.4 litres. If you have less, make up the mixture with water. If more, boil to evaporate the excess. Meanwhile, sterilise your jars and put a small plate in the freezer to chill.
• Return the liquid to the pan and add the sugar. Heat until dissolved, then bring to the boil, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface, and allow to cook for about 20 mins. Use a sugar thermometer to take the temperature up to 105C or, after 15 mins, start checking it's set by dropping the mixture onto a chilled plate. When it is ready, the mixture will appear set when you push your finger through. The drips that come off the spoon will also look syrupy. Spoon off any remaining scum and stir in the Port. Pot into the jars, then leave to set. Will keep for at least a year.

ROSY GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Pour the cranberry and grape juices into a heavy pot. Add the pectin and stir until dissolved. Bring the juice mixture to a full rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the sugar, and return to a full boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and skim off any foam. Pour jelly into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headroom. Adjust lids. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath.

SURE.JELL CRANBERRY 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.
• Measure juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. Stir in pectin. 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 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.)

JALAPENO CRANBERRY JELLY (CHRISTMAS JELLY)

Steps:

• Place cranberry juice and jalapenos in a blender; cover and process until peppers are fully chopped. Strain through a seive pressing with the back of a spoon to remove all liquid. This can also be strained through a double-thickness of cheesecloth.
• Pour the strained juice into a Dutch oven; add vinegar. Stir in sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin; return to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil for 1 minute (no longer), stirring constantly.
• Remove from the heat; skim off foam with a metal spoon. Add food coloring if desired. Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water canner.