I spent a good part of my day in the kitchen today. And, if you know me AT ALL, you will know that staying in the kitchen isn't really my dream job. However, for the most part, I behaved like a good girl. For the most part. I mean, who doesn't freak out and loose their heads when a pot is bubbling over, smoke is dense as smoke, the smoke detector isn't helping calm your nerves, and your little sisters are asking if you caught the house on fire? All the while, you're thinking, "My Dad is going to kill me" (I'm a firefighter's daughter....Smoke and fire don't mix well with Daddy, and honestly, me neither...Do they, Joanna? Inside joke, sorry.)
So, but you get the point, that for a wee bit, there was some fiasco, but, not for most of it. Finished project?
Sweet southern Mayhaw Jelly!
Made my me truly. That sounds neat..'Me Truly'....Me truly...Sorry...going forward.
10 jars, thats 4 gallons worth of mayhaws. And tomorrow, guess what! I have 2 more gallons to do. I'm simply loving this!
WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME BLOGGER!! WHY do my pictures keep going sideways? Ugh. Hopefully you don't break your neck craning to see the picture the right way.
Again. Sideways.
Let us, sign the sideways song to the theme of 'Sesame Street'!
One is clear, the other has berry/fruit pieces in it. This is the second time I've made Mayhaw jelly, and I don't know whether they are fruit or berries...Somefin's wrong with me. Or, I just don't care. Which is the likely cause.
"WHY" you are probably wondering, "Is the jar upside down?" Elementary My Dear Watson (I really do use that phrase as often as possible) You have to let the jars seal that way. Ya know how store bought jars are sealed with the 'if seal is broken, do not eat because a terrorist might have poisoned this jar of normally fine food'? Well, even though I know there are no terrorists in our home, the seal helps can the food! Otherwise, it would just be a jar of rotting jelly in our pantry.
No, really, it would rot. Mold, mildew..probably a roach or two...you get the point.
So, upside down she goes to seal, then once it is sealed, I tip'er right side up!
So, there is my well spent day. Maybe not happily spent, but we can't always be happy, can we? And, since Shiloh is clingy to Mama right now, I HAD to do it before our Mayhaws went bad. And, if you didn't know, You just can't buy Mayhaws at Walmart, and they certainly don't have cheap prices attached to them. So, there ya have it. Those 10 jars will probably get us a month or two. Then....we will have to...It'll be winter, so we'll have to buy that nasty Grape jelly. Bleck.
How was your Sunday spent, my dear followers?
Vulcan Salute, and Fairfallens to you all, Ashley.
P.S,
In case anybody wants it, here is our Mayhaw Jelly recipe:
MAYHAW JELLY
4 c. juice
1 box pectin
5 c. sugar
TO PREPARE JUICE: Sort and wash fully ripe Mayhaw. Crush fruit, add water, cover, and bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Extract juice.
TO MAKE JELLY: Measure juice into a kettle. Bring to a boil, add pectin and stir well. Bring back to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add sugar, continue stirring, and heat again to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute.
Remove from heat; skim off foam quickly. Pour jelly immediately into hot sterile canning jars to 1/4 inch from top. Seal and process 5 minutes in a boiling water bath. Makes 6 (1/2 pint) jars
