The Grapes of Wrath and other assorted novels

What a good idea! Let's make jelly out of the grapes that Daniel and I picked from our vines Sunday.

Yeah right!

One hour of picking. This was fun. Daniel sorted and placed them into the container and was quite happy to do it until the first bug appeared and jumped onto his pants! Bug Off!

Next, carry the containers into the house and wash and pick through the grapes. Dumb me, I separated the skins from the pulp and then placed them into a kettle to cook. 2 hours

Remove the pulp, skins and seeds via the food mill. What an old crank that is. 3/4 of an hour.

Next day, measure juice (20 cups). open box of SureJell and read directions. Oops, wrong directions. (Later).

Place 5 cups juice, 3 cups sugar and one package of pectin into kettle.

Heat until boiling, boil for 1 minute then transfer into clean, hot jars. (2 hours)

Repeat the 5 cup juice, 3 cup sugar and box of pectin one more time. (save the rest for tomorrow when Daniel can help make the jelly)

In the meantime, ladle into the jars, place caps and rings onto jars, secure tightly and place on surface to cool. Listen for the heartwarming pop!

(total time measuring, boiling, capping and lidding......4 hours)

Sugar: five pounds $3.29

jars: free, had them

lids: $1.89 per box

rings: Had them

Pectin: $2.59 times two

Day two. None of the jars of jelly jelled.!!!!!

Look up online how to remedy the problem.

Remedy........start over.

Uncap, pour into measuring cup (only 4 cups not 5 this time)

4 teaspons of pectin added and mixed to cold juice. ! cup sugar added to boiling juice, and

boil for 4 more minutes, stiring all the while. Oh, brush the kettle with butter and you will

get no foam to skim off).

Do the above process for three times, repeat and then wait for Daniel to come home from school to help with the final batch.

Yes, it all jelled.

Yes it was fun (at first)

Yes Daniel was tickled to help.

Yes he took his three jars of grape jelly home.

Yes it was worth it.

Cost per jar? Near as I can figure about $11.83!

Next craft fair you attend that has a booth selling home made jelly and jam for $4.50 per jar....................................grab it! What a deal!