Low Sugar Southern Muscadine Jelly Food

MUSCADINE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash muscadines and place in a stockpot. Just barely cover with water and bring to a boil for about 25 minutes. Stirring every few minutes.
• Once the Muscadines have finished boiling, strain to get your juice.
• Add juice and pectin to a pot and bring to a rolling boil, one that can not be stirred down. After it comes to a boil add sugar and butter (this keeps it from foaming up as much.) Allow to come back up to a boil and boil for 1 minute.
• To make sure your jelly will be the right consistency, keep a spoon in ice water while preparing the jelly. When you are ready to test just shake the water off of the spoon and dip out about half a spoon full of jelly. Allow to cool for a few minutes. If it sets up on the spoon you should be good to go.
• Can/ Preserve using desired method or refrigerate for immediate use.
• The yield for 1/2 gallon should be around 9 cups.

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.