Fireweed Jelly Recipes

Steps:

• Pick, wash and measure 8 cups of fireweed blossoms (flower part only). Put into large saucepan.
• Add 1/4 cup lemon juice and 4 1/2 cups water.
• Boil 10-12 minutes and strain into a bowl. KEEP THE JUICE, and throw the cooked blossoms away.
• Strain the juice through cheesecloth two more times for clarity of jelly.
• Take strained juice and heat to lukewarm. Add 2 packages Sure Jell or other pectin and bring to boil.
• Add 5 cups sugar and bring to FULL boil. Boil hard for 5 minutes.
• Pour into hot, clean jars and seal.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Gather fireweed blossoms, then wash and measure out the 8 packed cups of cleaned ones.
• In a large pot, combine the blossoms, lemon juice, butter, and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Pour through a sieve then return liquid to pot and heat through to medium low. Discard contents of sieve.
• Add packages of pectin, stir, and bring to a boil.
• Add the sugar, stir well, and bring to a full boil. Let boil fully for 1 minute, then turn off heat.
• Stir until sugar is fully dissolved.
• Pour into sterilized jelly jars, leaving 1/4- inch head space.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• Makes 10 to 12 jars fireweed jelly.

Steps:

• For fireweed juice: Harvest about 8 packed cups of fireweed flowers. Rinse thoroughly and put in 2 quart pot. Add just enough water to make water level just below top of packed flowers. (Juice should be a deep purple color when finished. If too much water is used in boiling process, juice will be a brownish color. More water can always be added after flowers are boiled to increase amount of juice.) Boil flowers in water until color is boiled out and petals are a grayish color. Ladle juice into jar through cheesecloth to strain.
• Warm fireweed juice, lemon juice and butter on stovetop.
• Add Sure-Jell, bring to boil and boil hard for one minute.
• Add sugar and bring to full boil for one minute. Skim top of jelly.
• Pour into pitcher(makes it easier to fill jars)and skim again.
• Fill sterilized jars leaving 1/8 inch space at top. Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes.