Spiced Pomegranate Apple Jelly Food

WINTER SPICE JELLY

Steps:

• Wash and cut up the apples into small chunks, leaving the peel and cores in. Tip the apple into a large pan with the spices, orange peel and bay leaves, reserving 2 star anise, 4 cloves and 2 bay leaves for the jars. Cover with 600ml water. Bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and simmer with a lid on for 1 1⁄2 hrs.
• Pour the apple mixture into a jelly bag or a sieve lined with muslin or a J-cloth, suspended over a large bowl. Leave to drip for 2 hrs (until it stops dripping) or overnight. Do not be tempted to push the liquid though the sieve or your jelly will become cloudy.
• Measure the juice - you should have about 600ml. Pour the liquid into a large pan along with the jam sugar and vinegar.
• Set over a low heat to dissolve the sugar, stirring constantly. Once dissolved, turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Boil rapidly for 15 mins, or until setting point is reached, skimming away any scum that rises to the surface.
• Pour jelly into hot sterilised jars and place a star anise, bay leaf and 2 cloves into each jar. Chill for 3-4 hrs or overnight until set.

SPICED APPLE JELLY FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• Cook apple peelings/cores and spices in water barely to cover for 10-15 minutes over medium heat.
• Strain through jelly bag or cheesecloth.
• There should be from 2 1/2 to 3 cups juice.
• Add sugar and cook until juice sheets from spoon.
• Skim away froth 3-4 times during cooking.
• Pour into hot sterilized jars, and seal.
• Makes about four 1/2 pint jars.

SPICED POMEGRANATE APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Cut each apple into 8 pieces (do not core or seed).
• Combine apples and water and spices in heavy, medium saucepan and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until apples are very tender, about 35 minutes.
• Remove from heat, cover and let stand 8 hours.
• Line large sieve with triple thickness of dampened cheesecloth; set over large bowl.
• Pour apple mixture into sieve and let drain overnight.
• Measure apple juice and transfer to heavy, medium saucepan.
• Add ¾ cup sugar for each 1 cup of juice.
• Mix in lemon juice.
• Cook over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
• Increase heat and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add grenadine.
• Cook about 8 minutes longer.
• Check the jelly this point.
• Drop 1 tblsp of jelly onto a chilled saucer and put in freezer.
• If it wrinkles when pushed after 2 minutes of cooling, then it is done.
• Skim off foam from surface of jelly.
• Spoon jelly into hot, sterilized jars and wipe rim clean.
• Seal tightly.
• Cool.
• Refrigerate up to 3 months.

MRS. GUBLER'S POMEGRANATE JELLY

Steps:

• Sterilize canning or jelly jars, and let dry without touching insides or rim. Place lids in a saucepan, and cover with boiling water; let stand until ready to use.
• Cut pomegranates in half, and extract juice from seeds with a citrus juicer or reamer. Strain through a fine sieve into a large saucepan, discarding pulp. You should have about 5 cups juice.
• In a small bowl, mix pectin with 1/4 cup sugar; stir mixture into juice in saucepan. Bring to a boil, and add remaining 4 3/4 cups sugar. Stir constantly until sugar dissolves while returning mixture to a boil; cook 2 minutes more.
• Remove from heat, and ladle mixture into sterilized jars. Remove lids from boiling water, and dry thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel. Carefully place lids on jars, and twist shut. Invert jars; let stand 30 minutes to seal.
• Reinvert jars, and check seals by pressing middle of lid with your finger. The lid should not spring back when released. If it does, the jar is not sealed; unsealed or open jars should be refrigerated and used within 3 weeks. Store sealed jars in a cool, dry, dark place up to 1 year.

APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Place apples in a large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until apples are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Crush cooked apples and simmer for 5 more minutes.
• Transfer crushed apples to a sieve or cheesecloth. Let drip into a bowl until all liquid has drained, pressing gently to release all the juice. Measure 5 cups apple juice, adding water if necessary to have exact amount. Stir sugar into juice; add butter to reduce foaming.
• Bring juice mixture to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin; boil for exactly 1 minute to dissolve pectin, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off excess foam with a metal spoon.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Ladle apple jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/8 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Store in a cool, dark area. Refrigerate opened jellies for up to 3 weeks.

POMEGRANATE JELLY

Steps:

• Combine pomegranate and lemon juice with sugar in a large, stainless steel saucepan. Bring to boil over high heat, and at once stir in liquid pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil, and boil exactly 1/2 minute. Remove from heat, and skim off foam.
• Ladle into hot, sterilized jars to within about 1/4 inch of the top. Seal, and process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

WINTER APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, combine the apple juice, pectin, lemon juice and food coloring if desired. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Quickly stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. , Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Stir in cinnamon. Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

APPLE JELLY

Steps:

• Cut the apples into 1-inch pieces without peeling or coring, but discard any damaged or spoiled spots.
• Place the apples in a large nonreactive pot and pour in 8 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat to maintain a simmer and cook without stirring until the apples soften, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Set a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a muslin bag over another large pot, and pour the contents of the pot into the sieve. Do not press on the apples to prevent the jelly from becoming cloudy. You should have at least 7 cups of juice. Some apple varieties absorb more water and may need 2 to 8 hours for the juice to naturally strain out. If that's the case, refrigerate the pot.
• Place a small plate in the freezer to use for testing the setting point of the jelly. Set the pot with the juice over medium-high heat. (Discard the fruit.) Add the sugar and lemon juice, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, skimming and discarding any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the liquid reduces by about three-quarters and a candy or deep-fry thermometer registers 225 degrees, 40 to 50 minutes. To test for doneness, spoon a small amount of liquid onto the cold plate from the freezer and return to the freezer to cool completely, about 2 minutes. Drag a spoon through the jelly. The setting point has been reached if it wrinkles and the wrinkles hold their shape. If they don't, continue to cook the jelly and test every few minutes on the cold plate.
• Once the jelly is done cooking, add the salt, stir to dissolve and adjust with more lemon juice, if needed, for a nice balance of sweet and tart with a floral taste. Ladle the hot liquid into clean, sanitized jars, screw on the lids and follow steps to can, or allow to cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.