Apple Jelly Without Added Pectin Recipe 45

Steps:

• Prepare juice: Wash apples. Do not peel or core. Cut apples into wedges.
• Repeat with the plums.
• Add apples and plums to a large pot. Add water.
• Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until fruit is soft. Let cool slightly.
• Strain juice through a damp jelly bag or layers of cheesecloth.
• Make the Jelly: Measure the juice. You should have about 3 cups of juice.
• Pour juice into a large pot. Add sugar.
• Note: The amount of juice may vary. Use ¾ as much sugar as you have of juice.
• Stir to dissolve sugar.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir until jelly has set; usually at 8 degrees above boiling water temperature or about 220 degrees.
• Or, use the sheet test method to determine if the jelly has set.
• Remove from heat, skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle into sterilized jars leaving ¼ inch headspace.
• Process in a water bath canner for 5 minutes.

Steps:

• To prepare juice. Select about one-fourth underripe and three-fourths fully ripe tart apples. Sort, wash and remove stem and blossom ends; do not pare or core. Cut apples into small pieces. Add water, cover, and bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until apples are soft. Extract juice. To make jelly. Measure apple juice into a kettle. Add lemon juice and sugar and stir well. Boil over high heat to 8 degrees above the boiling point of water, or until jelly mixture sheets from a spoon. 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. This recipe yields 4 to 5 half-pint jars.

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain jars well before filling.
• Remove stems and blossom ends from apples. Cut apples into small pieces. (Do not peel or core.) Place in large saucepan; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 min., stirring occasionally. Crush cooked apples; cover and simmer 5 min. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or a jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 5 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
• Stir sugar into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on a towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)