Friday, October 16, 2009

From vine to jar



The other day we made grape jelly from the grapes growing on the arbour outside the kitchen window.  We planted these grapes not for the fruit but for the privacy factor offered by the vigourous leaves.  A side benefit this year though was a bumper crop of grapes.  I think these are reisling grapes but since we leave it to the wine makers to do the winemaking honours we decided to try making a grape jelly.



 Now I've made jam for years from blackberries, plum, strawberries etc., but jelly making was a bit of a mystery to me.  No more.  It's actually very easy.  The only difference is that you first cook the crushed fruit and then strain it through a jelly bag to get the clear juice needed to make the jelly.



 

 We started out using a cloth bag suspended from the cupboard but since we were making more than one batch I went out and purchased the jelly strainer.  It worked beautifully.



After just a couple of hours of work this is what we produced.  Seventeen jars of beautiful grape jelly.  And it tastes delicious.  I think we'll be making this an October ritual in years to come.



5 comments:

  1. It been a long time since I made jelly like that. It is sooo good. Wife and I visited your beautiful island several weeks ago and love it. Enjoyed your blog...great pictures.

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  2. Love your makeshift jelly bag. Looks a lot like mine - I have a special tea towel that I save just for jelly.
    I have never eaten green grape jelly. Sounds wonderful.

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  3. hi joanna - stunning photographs - no really!! i've never seen this done or understood the idea but i think i do now. could you e-mail me a jar!! steven

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  4. Troutbirder, thanks for visiting my blog. Glad you enjoyed your time on Vancouver Island. It is a special place.

    Stephanie, these grapes made lovely tasting jelly but my friend tells me her green ones taste terrible. I just lucked out I guess.

    Steven, I'm glad I helped you understand about jelly making. It's not really that hard. I would love to e-mail a jar to you; wish it could happen.

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  5. oh that looks so yummy!!! i think the grapevines with the big leaves are so beautiful!

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