Raspberry Jelly

I couldn't resist the urge to put my over the top crop of raspberries to good use. The freezer was quickly filling with container after container of juicy, tart, berries of goodness and I knew I would have to use some of them soon, if for nothing else, space reasons!

I love homemade jelly. I'm not much of a jam person.. having grown up on smooth and glossy jellies. Up to today, I have never made my own jelly so I was excited to give it a try.

Cooking down the berries and extracting the juice was the first step. I placed 7 cups of fresh berries in a heavy pan and added a scant 1/2 cup of water. I slowly cooked the berries down, breaking the berries down with a potato masher.

As the berries continued to cook, whole berries turned to a most beautiful red raspberry puree.
Once the berries were cooked down, I strained the liquid to leave a tart juice.

Placing 4 cups of the strained juice into another pan, the juice was cooked again until it reached a rolling boil. Fruit pectin and 5 cups of sugar were added and brought back to a rolling boil. The mixture boiled for 1 minute.

In the meantime, I had filled an enamelware canning pot half full of water and placed on the stove to boil. This is for processing the jars once they are filled. The water level must reach at least 1" above the top of the filled jars.

Once the raspberry/sugar mixture boiled for 1 minute, it was removed from the stove and the jars were very quickly filled, using a wide mouth funnel. The jars were filled to approximately 1/2 inch from the top. the tops of the jars were wiped clean of any possible spillage and topped with the sanitized sealing lids and rings. Each jar was hand tightened and placed in the hot water bath. The jars were processed for 5 minutes then removed to cool on the counter.

The result is the most beautiful raspberry jelly! I used 1/2 pint jars. I like this style jar with their short but wide shape. (they are Ball jars)

Next step is to design a label for the lids and then they are ready to give as gifts and of course, keep a few for our own use!

May Garden Update

Here in our area, April was the second warmest on record.  We had several 80 degree days, and numerous 70 degree days which prompted the gardens to grow much faster than usual. 

The month of May brings our "frost free" date (a couple weeks away), and it's a month of amazing growth.  Here's a look at some of the garden residents this afternoon:

This beautiful HUGE Hosta is one of my favorites.  The bright colored leaves just 'pop' in the shade garden.  (once the leaves all come out on the trees, it will be shady!)

Wild violets find their way into some of the silliest places.  Here they've popped up in the garden path.

The large woodland ferns are growing so fast you can almost see it happening before your eyes!

A beautiful, stray Columbine plant shows off it's spectacular beauty. 

The Hydrangea bushes are growing rapidly as well.  I'm hoping we do not get a frost.. I'll have to cover these precious plants if one is predicted.  The bushes are going to be huge this year!  My secret:  Plantone all natural fertilizer.

The lillies are growing almost as fast as the ferns!  Last year, these plants gave me so many vases of beautiful flowers.

Feeling vintage?  Hollyhocks are perfect for that old vintage feel!

Another Hosta going strong!

Small violas, lush and beautiful. 

I wasn't sure if this Astilbe would survive the winter, but it did and it's looking great!

The Delphinium is loving all the warm weather!  I can't wait to see the beautiful blue spikes of flowers!

Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do! 

Raspberry vines are growing strong next to an old metal storage shed.  These things multiply like crazy! I think there will be more jelly in my future!

A small bed of Iris getting ready to bloom.

The Trumpet Vines are leafing out.  Soon they'll be growing all over the place!

Another big Hosta.  Can you tell I like Hosta?

The Lady's Mantle continues to grow. 

A few of the Iris that are blooming.  These are closer to the house.

Another gorgeous Columbine.  The color is a deep, deep maroon.  I let it self seed every year.