Easy Muscadine Jelly Food

MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash muscadines, place in a stockpot and add just enough water to cover the muscadines.
• Place over medium heat and bring to a full boil. (As muscadines begin to heat, start mashing them with a potato masher.)
• Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 15 minutes, continuing to mash muscadines.
• Remove from heat and pour mixture through a strainer into a large stockpot.
• Place stockpot over medium heat and bring to a full rolling boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred, about 5 minutes. Reduce to simmer.
• When mixture is at simmer level, add pectin to the juice and stir until well dissolved. Bring to full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute.
• Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil and boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Test to determine if juice has "jellied" according to pectin packaging instructions. If not, add more pectin from spare box, as directed on instructions.
• Pour jelly into hot sterilized jars. Skim foam off top of jelly. Screw the lids on jars and place into a prepared water bath canner with enough simmering water to cover 1 to 2 inches above jars. Add boiling water to canner if needed to cover jars.
• Bring to a boil and boil for 5 to 15 minutes according to pectin package instructions for your altitude.
• Remove from water. Place on towel, leaving about an inch between jars. Do not move the jars for at least 24 hours. Check that each jar has sealed before storing.
• Store in pantry, unopened, for up to 1 year. Once opened, store in refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

MUSCADINE JAM #1 (WITH SURE-JELL)

Steps:

• Prepare grapes by cutting partway through the skin and popping the pulp/seed capsule out of the hull. Put pulp into one pot and the hulls into another.
• Simmer the pulp, covered, on low-medium until soft enough to press through sieve or food mill ~ 10 minutes. Add just a little water if necessary to prevent sticking.
• Meanwhile, chop hulls very finely in the food processor and return to their pot. Add just enough water to make it possible to simmer without sticking. Cook slowly, covered, 15-20 minutes or until hulls are tender.
• Press pulp through a sieve or food mill to remove seeds. Stir sieved pulp into cooked hulls in a medium-large pot.
• Stir Sure-Jell into the fruit and bring to a full boil, stirring constantly.
• Add sugar all at once, stirring in well.
• Bring to a full, rolling boil, stirring constantly and boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim foam if necessary and pack into sterilized jelly jars.
• Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes.

BEST MUSCADINE JAM

Steps:

• Prepare grapes by cutting partway through the skin and popping the pulp/seed capsule out of the hull. Put pulp into one pot and the hulls into another.
• Simmer the pulp, covered, on low-medium until soft enough to press through sieve or food mill ~ 10 minutes. Add just a little water if necessary to prevent sticking.
• Meanwhile, chop hulls very finely in the food processor and return to their pot. Add just enough water to make it possible to simmer without sticking. Cook slowly, covered, 10 minutes or until hulls are softened.
• Peel lemon and chop peel finely. Use entire peel, including the white part, to ensure good jelling.
• Juice the lemon.
• Press pulp through a sieve or food mill to remove seeds. Stir sieved pulp into cooked hulls in a large pot.
• Add lemon juice and peel. Bring to a boil.
• Stir in sugar and return to a boil.
• Simmer, stirring frequently until the jellying point is reached ~ 1-2 hours. Timing is approximate and will vary depending on conditions and the amount of natural pectin in the fruit. Check frequently.
• Pack into hot, sterilized jars and process for 10 minutes in boiling water bath.

MUSCADINE JAM

Steps:

• Inspect four 8-ounce jars (or two 16-ounce jars) for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jam is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water. Place a couple of small plates in the freezer.
• Wash grapes and cut in half. Combine grapes and sugar in a large pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Maintain a medium to low boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often to prevent sticking; make sure it does not get too hot.
• Check doneness by dropping a small spoonful of jam onto a frozen plate. Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes; if jam appears to gel, it is ready. Continue cooking if jam appears thin and runny.
• Transfer a portion of the jam mixture to a blender; puree until all hulls and seeds are ground. Set pureed jam in a pot to keep warm, and continue with remaining mixture.
• Pack pureed jam into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on tightly.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from water and set aside until the entire canning jar cools and you hear the "pop" of the can sealing, at least 1 hour. Store and enjoy at your leisure!