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But before that, I spent my Friday afternoon making crabapple jelly. You don't see a lot of crabapples around anymore, so when I saw these lovelies at a local farm market, I grabbed a basket. I adore crabapple jelly -- taste and color!
Can't make jelly, you say? Well, come along with me and I'll tell you how to do it.
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Lovingly wash beautiful ruby-red crabapples & pull off the stems. Gaze at them with delight for a few minutes before you assemble all your necessary beloved old friends/jelly-making paraphernalia whom you haven't seen in a few years. Smile! Caress the ladle and the wide mouth funnel. Give a gentle sweet pat to the pretty lids you found at the thrift store. Wash and sterilize your jam jars, including those adorable little ones you got at the yard sale. Smile again. ***
Measure out your fruit (according to the pectin package 'cause you ain't takin no chances on this labor of love not jelling properly!) Boil washed fruit in small amount of water for about 15 min.
While it's boiling, go to the living room and pick out a CD. Colin James is perfect for jelly-making! Crank it up and twirl in your apron for a bit. After all -- it is Friday afternoon and the girls are still in school and you have the place to yourself.
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Improvise a new jelly bag ('cause old one was discarded by thoughtless non-jelly making children when you packed up and moved 3 years ago). Use a new, previous washed, wet dish towel (that you didn't really like anyway 'cause it isn't yellow); place in a large collander over a large bowl & allow juices to drip into said bowl for a few hours. Dig that opened bottle of red wine out of the back of the fridge ('cause we can't allow it to go bad!!) and pour yourself a big glass. Go to living room & continue to listen to Colin & twirl some more. Sit & finish your crossword!
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Measure juice and pour into a large, tall pot. Open your 2 pectin packages and add to the sugar you've measured out (determined by reading that good ole pectin box). Add this to the pot, stir until dissolved and bring to a full rolling boil. I can't remember how long it boiled!
And it had nothing to do with the glass of wine so you just get that right out of your mind! If you need to know so badly, find out for yourself!! Read your own dang pectin box!! Who do you think I am? Martha freaking Stewart!
Oh ... sorry ... that does have to do with the wine!
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Take jelly off the heat and skim off the foam. Using your beloved paraphernalia, ladle hot jelly into hot jars and immediately cover with hot lids.
(This was all done by Hot Mama in yellow striped apron.)
When you're finished, scoop out all jelly left on the ladle with your finger and say "Yummmm!"
***
Pour another glass of wine and sit and listen for that satisfying "ping" as the lids seal.
Ahhhh!
13 comments:
Lots of wineing goin' on there. Looks delicious. I cut crabapples in half and throw them under the house to rid it of spiders in the winter. Mice avoid it also. Skunks...not so much!
Ya'll have a fantastically blessed day!!!
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Nezzy -- Crabapples for spiders and mice! Never heard of that! So, I'll pass that along to my country neighbours.
Now I have 2 reasons for finding and buying some crab apples. I love your attitude and the way you go about doing something I'd classify as work. I need those crabapples under my camper there in the woods if they keep away spiders and mice.
Perfect music Sandy for making crabapple jelly!!!
Love this entertaining version of jelly-makin. :-)
Wish you could send some of that MY way. looks soooooo dang good. You are a domestic goddess for sure.
I used to live in Chilliwack British Columbia some 27 years ago and believe me......there wasn't anything there that grew that I didn't bottle up.
You should have seen my storage room.
Now I go to Costco.
Wow...that looks good but a lot of work!!! Do you deliver?
sandy toe
Just found your blog and had to be a follower after reading this post. Wine, crabapples, and canning jars...oh my! LOL!
Living it up at Lakewood,
Cindy
Just one more day until we draw for the Giant Ornament Giveaway on my Christmas blog...Stop by for a visit....http://grammyababychangeseverything.blogspot.com
LOL! I love your directions for making jelly. Sounds like fun! I haven't had crabapples since I was a child...and I loved them.
Have a great day!
Thanks for the wonderful comments everyone! Jelly making is wonderful fun for me -- not work at all. And if I could, I'd ship you all a bottle 'cause it's "Gorgeous Darling! Simply gorgeous!"
I have never heard of crabapple jelly before - You are the ultimate homemaker!! Go girl :D
Now if all recipes came with detailed instructions like this one I might even turn into a cook. I am sure I would get the use of the red wine and music perfected in no time, the jelly? ...well we will just have to wait and see.
What a great post.
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