1 Make Your Own Mixed Jelly!

This jelly combination came quite by accident.  My mom was making three different jellies:  grape, plum and currant and had just a little bit of juice left over from each batch.

She decided to combine all three and the result?  Our family favorite jelly!  This mix is sweet, with a mild sour undertone from the currants.

I use a steam juicer to make juice for my jellies.  It is very simple and easy to do.  Then I bottle the juice to make jelly in the winter.  I'm glad I had the juice on hand.  This past spring, our plum tree didn't produce a single plum due to the frost and our currant bush suddenly died.

Making your own jelly is a great first time canning project.  You don't need to make your own juice; you can purchase many different varieties of 100% juice ~ make sure it says 100% No Sugar Added on the label.

Four- five cups of juice is all you need to make about 7 half pint jelly jars.

Pour the juice into a large saucepan.  Here, I have 2 cups Grape, 2 cups, Plum and 1 cup of Currant juice.  Our secret formula....

Combine juice and powdered pectin.  You can choose from regular pectin or a low/no sugar pectin.

Follow the directions for the jelly and use the amount of sugar indicated on the package.

 

I like to use Sure Jell ~

Bring juice and pectin to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently.

 

Stir in sugar, stirring until dissolved.   

Return to a rolling boiling over high heat, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute.

Do not boil any longer, or you will turn your jelly into a sucker-like substance.

Remove from heat.   Skim off the foam.  You can save the foam and use it as a spread.  Skimming the foam ensures that you will end up with a CLEAR jelly.

Ladle jelly into HOT jars (keep hot in boiling water or in dishwasher), leaving 1/4" headspace.  Wipe the rims with a clean, wet paper towel, put lid and screw rings on finger-tight.

Process the jars in a water bath canner according to your altitude:
Sea level = 10 min
1,000- 3,000 = 15 min
3,001 - 6,000 = 20 min
6,001 - 8,000 = 25 min
8,000 - 10,000 = 30 min

Since these are the cute 4 oz jars, (smaller than the half pint jars) I checked with my state extension agency and got the formula to water bath these jars for 15 min at a 5,000 altitude.

There you have it.  Why not make your own mixed berry jelly with any of your favorite juices?