Jelly Time!

My berries aren't gone yet, but my grapes are ready to pick! I didn't know they were ready, a lot of them had been dying (it's been too wet). I was afraid I wouldn't have enough to make jelly.
I was wrong.


I always use Sure Jell to make my jelly. Just follow the instructions, it's very easy.
Here's my stove all ready to go. The little pan is for the lids, the large one in the back is for sterilizing my jars, and the one on the right is to cook the jelly mixture in.



Put your grapes in the pan and smash them, add 1 1/2 cups of water, bring to boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. And please watch the pot, don't let it boil over like I did.




This is what I use to strain my grape juice. I put cheesecloth over an old aluminum colander and set it over a bowl. I pour my boiled grape mixture into it and let it drain. I always use more grapes than it says to, then I don't have to wait and wait to get the amount of juice needed. There's always plenty and it's quick! You need 5 cups of prepared juice.




My jars are waiting. I use the old aluminum funnel that mom used when she made jelly years ago.


Put Sure Jell into the 5 cups of juice and bring to a boil. Then add the 7 cups of sugar and bring to a boil again and boil for 1 minute.


Skim off the foam.



And here is your end result. Delicious grape jelly! I like it better than blackberry jelly, but don't tell anyone.


I've always turned my jelly jars upside down for 5 minutes, then turn them upright again. They tell you not to do this, but I've always did it this way and never had a problem. But feel free to follow the instructions and do the boiling water bath if you want to. My jars are all sealed and ready to spread on toast. Yummy!

Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell everybody that the kitty now has a home. Granny Sue's husband came and got the kitty cat.