The golden sun of late summer casts a warm glow over Sweet BombDiggity Farms and signals to us that it is almost grape harvest season! This year we had a bounty of ripe Concord grapes hanging heavy on the vines, you know what that means— it’s jelly-making time.
I have a special affection for canning. It is a tradition that I inherited from my Grandma Sue, a phenomenal home economics teacher who graced our family with her skills and patience. Each time I start canning, I feel her presence enveloping me, like a warm hug that links the past with the present. Every jar of jelly I make holds more than just sweet, preserved fruit—it holds a deep sense of nostalgia and connection to this incredible woman who taught me so much.
So, I’ve pulled out my tattered recipe card and am getting started. Let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into one of my favorite recipes. Let’s Get Jiggly and start this yummy Concord Grape Jelly dance!
Ingredients:
– 1-1/4 qt. (5 cups) prepared juice (hint: grab about 3-1/2 lb. of fully ripe Concord or other loose-skinned grapes)
– 1-1/2 cups water
– 1 box SURE-JELL Fruit Pectin
– 1/2 tsp. butter or margarine (it’s the anti-foam secret!)
– 7 cups sugar, measured into a separate bowl (yes, we’re making it sweet!)
Let’s Make It:
1. Prepping the Stage:
Fire up that boiling-water canner, half full with water, to a simmer. Get those jars and screw bands spa-ready with a hot, soapy bath; then rinse with warm water. Drape flat lids in a saucepan off the heat and give them a boiling water soak. Let them lounge until you’re ready to seal the deal.
2. Grape Gala:
De-stem and give those grapes a good squish—show no mercy! We’re talking thorough crushing, one layer at a time. Pop them into a large saucepan with water, and let the grape party begin. Crank up the heat until they’re bubbling like a jacuzzi, then dial it back to low; lid on and let it simmer for 10 minutes (a little stir now and then keeps things happy).
3. Juice Jamboree:
Roll out 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or a jelly bag over a large bowl. It’s grape parade time! Pour the prepared fruit into the cheesecloth, tie it up like a neat little present, and let it drip leisurely into the bowl. When the dripping ends, give it a gentle press. VIP step: measure *exactly* 1-1/4 qt. (5 cups) of this VIP (Very Important Prepared) juice into a 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
4. The Magic Motion and Potion:
Whisk that pectin into the juice until they’re best friends. Add the butter—it’s our foam fighter. Crank up the heat until your mixture is throwing a full rolling party (a boil that’s too excited to calm down when stirred), all while you’re stirring like a wizard. Now, add the sugar! Back to boiling point for 1 min—keep that stirring moving. Time’s up? Off the heat it goes. Skim off any party-crashing foam with your trusty metal spoon.
5. Doing the Jar Jig:
Ladle your mixture into the prepped jars, leave 1/4 inch of ‘headspace’ at the top of the jar. Wipe the jar rims and threads—leave no sticky situations here. Cap them with 2-piece lids and screw bands, snug but not overtight. Pop those jar onto an elevated rack in the canner, and lower them into their warm bath. Make sure they’re submerged by 1 to 2 inches; top up with boiling water if needed. Lid onthe canner and let the gentle boiling lullaby begin for 5 min. Afterward, lift out the jars and let them chill on a towel until they’re cool and collected.
Final Act:
After the jars cool down from their adventure, give each lid a little poke—if it flexes back, it’s headed to the fridge. If it stays put, congrats—you’ve just sealed in some grape-tastic magic!
Now take a bow, you are a Jelly Genius! 🎉
And there you have it—a jar of delicious, homemade Concord grape jelly, infused with the love and memories of generations past. So go ahead, toast up some bread, slather on a generous layer of this divine jelly, and savor a sweet moment that’s as rich and deep as family history itself.
Here’s to my grandma Sue, to Sweet BombDiggity Farms, and to the delightful tradition of canning that ties us all together. Happy harvest, and even happier jelly-making!