Scuppernong Jelly Food

HOW TO MAKE SCUPPERNONG JELLY

Steps:

• Wash the grapes under cold running water and remove any stems or leaves.
• Place the grapes in a 6 quart or larger pot and add the water. On high heat bring the grapes to a boil.
• Boil stirring constantly for 20 minutes or until the skins have slipped and most of the seeds have been released from the pulp. Use a metal potato mashers to help things along.
• After 20 minutes and the skins have softened remove from the heat. Use the potato masher to mash any remaining grapes and to help the pulp to release the grape juice.
• Line a large wire mesh strainer with a triple layer of cheesecloth or with a large lint-free flour sack towel, or a jelly bag.
• Carefully pour the hot pot of muscadine grape into the cheesecloth or flour sack, or jelly bag.
• Allow the juice to slowly drain for at least an hour. Once you have 3 2/3 cups of juice discard the solids.
• Combine the scuppernong grape juice, sugar and lemon juice in a large 6 to 8-quart pot to prevent over boiling.
• Heat on medium-high and occasionally stir until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat to high and bring to a hard boil.
• Once the scuppernong juice has reached a hard boil that can not be stirred down add the pouch of liquid pectin.
• Stir to combine and return to a hard boil. Boil for one minute exactly.
• Carefully remove the hot pot from the heat and use a spoon remove all of the foam that has settled on the top of the jelly. Discard the foam.
• Fill hot jelly jars with hot jelly leaving a 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jar rim with a damp paper towel.
• Place a flat lid on the jar and apply the band to fingertip tight.
• Process filled the jars in a hot water bath canner for 10 minutes. Turn off heat. Cool 5 minutes then remove the jars from the canner.
• Check for a proper seal after and hour.
• Place the jars on a towel and allow to cool overnight before labeling and storing.

BRONZE SCUPPERNONG JELLY

Steps:

• Place scuppernongs in large dutch oven and pour in water.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
• Take potato masher and mash fruit.
• Drain through cheese cloth.
• This should yield around 5 cups of juice, you may have a little over or under.
• If you have under, add water to bring up to 5 cups.
• Measure sugar into a separate bowl and set aside until needed.
• Place the juice in large boiler with the box of pectin.
• Bring to a full rolling boil.
• Be sure that it is a full boil that cannot be stirred down.
• Add sugar all at once.
• Bring back to a full rolling boil.
• Again be sure that it is a full boil that cannot be stirred down.
• Boil for 1 minute after reaching the full rolling stage.
• Remove from heat.
• Pour into jars that have been sterilized and preheated.
• Wipe rims of jars with a clean, wet, warm dishtowel.
• Place lids on jars and tighten rings.
• Process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.
• Remove from hot water and allow to cool completely before storing in pantry.

SCUPPERNONG JELLY

Steps:

• Wash the fruit and remove the stems. Place the fruit in a large bowl, and using your hands, a fork, or a potato masher, squeeze the grapes. Place the fruit in a large, stainless steel or enamel pot, and using your hands, mash until no large pieces of fruit remain. Add just enough water to keep the mixture from sticking (see page 295) and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to low, and simmer until very juicy, about 20 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a jelly bag (see page 293) and allow to hang over a bowl for at least 6 hours or overnight. Measure the juice; you should have about 8 cups.
• When you are ready to make the jelly, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Place several small plates in the freezer to use later to test the consistency of the jelly.
• Sterilize eight 1/2-pint canning jars and lids in boiling water, following the manufacturer's instructions (or see Boiling-Water Canning, page 279). Remove the jars from the water and place upside down to drain on the prepared rack. Remove the lids from the water and dry with a clean towel. Turn the sterilized jars right side up on the rack, using tongs or a kitchen towel to protect your hands. When they are cool enough to handle, dry them with a clean towel. Set aside.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the scuppernong juice (you should have about 16 cups, or 4 quarts), sugar, lemon juice, and salt. Follow the procedure for Raspberry Jam (page 289), including ringing the scuppernong mixture to a boil and cooking until the mixture reaches the jelling point, preparing the canner, filling the jars and boiling them gently for 5 minutes, and checking that the seals on the jars are good. Store the unopened jars of jam at room temperature for up to 1 year. Once the jam is opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
• variation
• For refrigerator or freezer jam, transfer the mixture to sterilized freezer-safe plastic containers or freezer-safe jars with lids, leaving 1 inch of headroom. Freeze for up to 1 year or refrigerate for up to 1 month.
• jelly bag
• A jelly bag is used for straining pressed juice when making jelly. It may be made of several thicknesses of cheesecloth, or of cotton flannel or firm unbleached muslin. These are available online and in some hardware stores and gourmet shops. Meme used to use an old cotton pillowcase. When making jelly, it is important not to squeeze the fruit. Let the fruit hang in the jelly bag and slowly drip out into a bowl. Squeezing the mixture will produce cloudy juice, which makes for cloudy jelly.