Red Grape Lavender Jelly Food

CONCORD GRAPE AND LAVENDER SORBET

Steps:

• Bring sugar and water to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and add lavender. Let steep 10 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve set over a bowl; discard solids. Refrigerate syrup until cold, about 15 minutes.
• Puree grapes in a blender until smooth. Pour through a fine sieve set over a bowl; discard solids. Stir in lavender syrup, cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
• Chill a loaf pan in freezer at least 10 minutes. Freeze and churn grape mixture in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions, then transfer to pan. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until hardened, at least 2 hours; sorbet can be frozen up to 2 weeks ahead.

LAVENDER JELLY

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over high heat bring water just to a boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in dried lavender flowers. Cover and let steep for 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, strain mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a deep kettle or pot, discarding the lavender flowers.
• Stir in lemon juice and pectin; continue stirring until the pectin is thoroughly dissolved.
• Over high heat, bring the mixture to a hard rolling boil (a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down).
• Add sugar. When the jelly solution returns to a hard rolling boil, let it boil for 2 to 4 minutes (see below), stirring occasionally.
• Boil Times:.
• 2 minutes - soft gel.
• 4 minutes - medium gel.
• Testing for "jell" (thickness - I keep a metal tablespoon sitting in a glass of ice water, then take a half spoonful of the mix and let it cool to room temperature on the spoon. If it thickens up to the consistency I like, then I know the jelly is ready. If not, I mix in a little more pectin (about 1 teaspoon to 1/2 of another package) and bring it to a boil again for 1 minute.
• After boiling, transfer the jelly into hot sterilized jars. Fill them to within 1/4 inch of the top, wipe any spilled jam off the top, seat the lid and tighten the ring around them.
• Process in a water bath for 10 minutes. Remove jars to wire rack and let cool before serving.
• Makes five 1/2 pints.

WILD GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• In large saucepan, crush grapes with potato masher; pour in water and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until fruit is very soft.
• Transfer to jelly bag or colander lined with a double thickness of fine cheesecloth and let drip overnight.
• Measure juice (you should have 3 cups/750 ml) into a large heavy saucepan; stir in sugar.
• Bring to boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
• Stir in pectin.
• Return to full boil and boil hard for one minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and skim off foam with a metal spoon.
• Pour into sterilized jars, leaving 1/8 inch headspace.

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.

GRAPE JELLY

Steps:

• Tip the grapes into a large saucepan set over a low heat, then cover and leave to gently cook for 5 mins until the juices start to run. Take a potato masher or fork and mash up the grapes. Leave to cook for about 10 mins more, mashing every now and again until the grapes are falling apart. Place a clean tea towel or kitchen cloth in a sieve set over a bowl, then pour the grape mixture into this. Let the mixture drip through for at least 1 hr or preferably overnight.
• Measure out the juice (you should have about 600ml) and pour it into a pan along with the sugar and lemon juice. Set the pan over a high heat and bring to the boil. Skimming any scum as it boils, let the mixture bubble until the temperature reaches 105C on a sugar thermometer. If you don't have one, put a small plate in the freezer for 5 mins, then pour a little of the juice onto the cold saucer. After 1 min, run your finger through; if the jam wrinkles slightly, it's ready. Pour the hot jam into a sterilised jar. Will keep unopened for up to 3 months.

RUBY RED GRAPEFRUIT JELLY

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, whisk pectin into juice. Bring to a full boil over high heat.
• Add sugar and return to a rolling boil. Boil hard one minute.
• Remove from heat, and pour into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust caps, and process in boiling water bath 5 minutes.