Muscadine Jelly

Making Homemade Jelly is SOOO Easy. Here's what I did:

1.Separate your muscadines from the stems and put them in a pot. You'll need approximately 1 gallon of grapes for 4 cups of prepared juice. This makes 5 - 1/2 pint jars. 

2. Cook grapes on the stove, using a potato masher to mash the grapes as they heat up. You'll have to cook them for a while to really release the juice. 

3) Transfer everything in the pot into a covered bowl and refrigerate. I refrigerate mine for 2 weeks. Letting the juice soak with the grape skins helps with color and depth of flavor. 

4) Return to the pot and cook again. You'll get even more juice this time!!

5.  While this is simmering away, get your ingredients ready. You'll need 1 box of "No Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin" per 4 cups of juice. You'll also need 1/2 - 3/4 cups of LOCAL Honey per 4 cups of prepared juice. Also get your jars ready, canner boiling, and get your food mill ready.  I put my food mill directly over my Pampered Chef Batter Bowl. It holds 8 cups of juice and has measurements on the side. VERY HELPFUL.

6.  When your grapes look good and juicy, it's time to start the food mill process.  This is time consuming, and a great time to enlist your hubby's help!!  Only do a couple spoonfuls at a time, and beware of flying seeds that may pop out of the mill!

You want to discard the seeds and skins left in the top of the mill.  What falls to the bottom is what you want to use for your jelly.

7. Transfer your juice back to the Pot. Add 1 tbsp of butter to help with foaming and glossiness. Also add your pectin. Bring to a rolling boil stirring constantly.  Once it is boiling so hard that your stirring doesn't weaken it, time one minute. When the minute is up, add the honey and return to a boil for a minute. 

 8. Turn off the heat, and start filling your jars!! Leave 1/4 inch head space. Seal and put the jars in the canner. Process for 10 - 15 minutes.

 I forgot to take a picture of the final product, but I will :) This jelly is so yummy and it's not bad for you!! Find a local beekeeper and get your honey from them. Support your community farmers and beekeepers!!