Currant And Port Jelly Food

RED CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• Place the red currants in a heavy stock pot. Add just a little bit of water to the bottom of the pot - just enough to cover the bottom to prevent scorching. Cook the currants, stirring frequently, until they are soft and wilted.
• Run the berries and liquid through a food mill (this is optional if you wish to remove the seeds). Weigh how much of berry pulp you have and then weigh an equal amount of sugar. Place the berry pulp and the sugar back in the pot. Bring it to boil, stirring constantly to prevent scorching, until the sugar is dissolved. Continue to boil for another 5-10 minutes and then do a wrinkle test to check if the jelly has set. You do this by placing a plate in the freezer for several minutes, then spoon a tiny bit of jelly onto the chilled plate and wait a couple of minutes. Push against the jelly mixture with your finger. If it wrinkles when you push it the jelly is set and ready. If it doesn't let the jelly mixture boil for a few more minutes before testing it again.
• Ladle the hot jam into sterilized jars and wipe the rims clean before screwing on the lids. For long-term storage process in a water bath canner for 5 minutes. Carefully remove the jars and let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours before removing the lid rings. Store in a dark, cool place where they will keep for at least 12 months.Alternatively you can skip the water bath process and let the jars cool completely after filling them and then store them in the fridge for up to several months.

CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine currants with 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until fruit has broken down and released its juices, about 8 minutes. Mash the fruit mixture with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. You should have about 4 cups juice. Discard solids.
• Place a small plate in the freezer. Return juice to clean saucepan; add sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. When teaspoon of jelly placed on chilled plate ripples if pushed with your finger, it is ready.
• Remove jelly from heat, and skim off any foam from surface. Ladle jelly into sterilized canning jars; wipe rims with a dishtowel. Seal tightly.
• Meanwhile, bring a stockpot of water to a boil over high heat. Using tongs, carefully place filled jars in boiling water, letting them sit 10 minutes. Remove; let cool. If center of jar lids give when pushed with finger, jars have not sealed properly. Jelly in sealed jars will keep up to 1 year. After opening, jelly will keep up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

APPLE SKILLET CAKE WITH PORT AND CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• To make the skillet cake batter, whisk together the eggs, milk and 2 tablespoons butter, melted. Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and zest. Combine the flour with the liquids and allow batter to rest, refrigerated, for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
• Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2-inch thick slices. In a separate pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, add the apple slices and saute over medium heat until they turn a rich golden color, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and carefully add the maple syrup, Port, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook slowly until the apples are tender at the center of each slice, but not soft and mushy, about 2 minutes.
• Heat a non-stick 7-inch omelet pan over low heat until hot. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of butter, melted, using either a brush or a tiny ladle, to coat the surface lightly. As soon as the butter has started to bubble, lift the pan off the heat and pour 1/2 cup of batter into the pan, tilting to spread the batter evenly across the bottom. Return the pan to heat, spoon in 1/4 of the apples and cook on low until golden on the underside. When the top is bubbly, flip and brown the second side.
• As each pancake is completed, place on an oven-proof platter set in a 200 degree oven. There should be enough batter to make at least 4 skillet cakes.
• Serve each cake warm with a dollop of currant jelly and some clotted cream or creme fraiche.

CURRANT AND PORT JELLY

Steps:

• There is no need to remove the currants from their stalks.
• Put the currants in a preserving pan with the water and simmer gently for 30 minutes, until the fruit is really soft and pulpy.
• Stir from time to time to prevent sticking.
• Spoon the fruit pulp into a jelly bag or cloth attached to the legs of an upturned stool, and leave to strain into a large bowl for at least 12 hours.
• Do not squeeze. Discard the pulp remaining in the jelly bag.
• Measure the extract and return it to the pan with 450g sugar for each 600 ml extract. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved, then boil rapidly for about 15 minutes.
• Test for a set and, when the setting point is reached, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the port, skim the surface with a slotted spoon and pot and cover the jelly.

SURE.JELL CURRANT JELLY RECIPE

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 well before filling.
• Stem and crush currants thoroughly, one layer at a time. Place currants in large saucepan; stir in water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 min., stirring occasionally. 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 6-1/2 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. (If needed, add up to 1/2 cup water for exact measure.)
• 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 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.)

LAMB EN CROûTE WITH REDCURRANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Season the lamb well. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry three fillets over a high heat for 5 minutes until seared on the outside. Remove from the pan and repeat with the other 3 fillets. Set aside until cold.
• Unravel the whole pack of pastry on a floured surface and cut into four rectangles. Cut the half pack to make two rectangles. Roll out each piece to make the rectangles 2.5cm larger all round.
• Position one rectangle with a short side facing you, brush with egg yolk and sprinkle with a sixth of the chopped sage. Put a lamb fillet on the pastry close to the end facing you, then fold the long sides in to cover the ends of the meat; brush these with more egg yolk.
• Freeze the lamb parcels on a tray until solid for 4 hours, then pack in a freezer container. Seal, label and freeze for up to a month.
• To make the sauce, melt the redcurrant jelly in a pan over a gentle heat, add the port and rosemary and boil uncovered for 10-12 minutes until syrupy. Cool for 5 minutes, strain into a freezer container, then leave until completely cold. Seal, label and freeze for up to a month.
• On the day defrost the lamb seam-side down on a wire rack for 3 hours at room temperature. Defrost the sauce at room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to fan 200C/ conventional 220C/gas 7. Put the parcels seam-side down on a nonstick baking sheet, brush with egg yolk, then snip four incisions in the top of each. Bake for 25 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and rest them for 5-10 minutes. Reheat the sauce in a pan.
• Slice each parcel and serve with the sauce and watercress salad.

CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• Using a potato masher or an immersion blender, crush currants in a large Dutch oven.
• Add water& bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat, cover& simmer until currents are softened& deflated, about 10 minutes.
• Wet a jelly bag (I use cheesecloth), wring out& suspend on a frame over a large measuring cup or bowl.
• Fill with currants& liquid; let drip, pressing bag lightly, until juice measures 6 1/2 cups, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Stirring constantly, bring juice& pectin to a boil in a large, clean pot.
• Add sugar, bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constsntly with a wooden spoon; Boil vigorously, stirring, for a minute.
• Remove from heat, skim off foam& pour into hot canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace.
• Wipe rims (if necessary), cover with prepared lids& screw on bands fingertip tight.
• Boil in boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

DUCKLING WITH PORT-WINE AND RED CURRANT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Remove giblets and necks from the ducklings. Rinse everything with running cold water and drain. Pat ducklings dry and cut each into quarteers; trimming excess skin and fat.
• Place a rack in roasting pan. Place duckling quarters, skin side up on rack and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast in oven for about 2 hours or until ducklings are golden and tender.
• While bird is roasting, place giblets and neck into a pot with enough water to cover. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 1 hour. Drain, reserving 1 cup of broth.
• In saucepan, combine the port-wine, orange juice, lemon juice, mustard, ginger, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup currant jelly and the reserved broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. In a small bowl or cup mix 2 tablespoons flour and 1/4 cup water. Gradually stir into simmering liquid in saucepan. Cook until sauce thickens slightly and is smooth.
• In a cup, stir 1/4 cup red-currant jelly and 1 teaspoon of water until smooth. About 10 minutes before duckling is done, brush duckling quarters with jelly mixture.
• To serve, arrange the duckling on a warm platter with oranges and olives as garnish. Serve the sauce in a gravy train or small bowl.

BAKED PORK TENDERLOIN WITH CURRANT JELLY AND DIJON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan on the stove, heat the jelly and the mustard together and make sure it is well blended. Set aside.
• Season the pork with salt and pepper.
• In a heavy pan, brown the tenderloins in butter for about 5 minutes or until browned on all sides.
• Place meat in a shallow baking dish and pour the sauce over the meat.
• Sprinkle with rosemary.
• Bake for about 25 minutes until the pork is slightly pink or longer for well done.
• Slice and serve on a platter garnished with rosemary sprigs.