Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Blackberry jelly(and blogger woes)

I tried to post this yesterday.
But blogger kept stealing my pictures.Here are fresh blackberries.
This is the blender I tried to wear out yesterday.I had over a gallon and 1/2 to do.This is the pulp I had to strain.This is cheese clothe ,It gets very messy too!!!I had to measure the juice to know how much sugar to add. I had 8 and 1/2 cups of juice.So added 11 cups of sugar.

I also added 2 boxes of fruit pectin.Recipe says to cook 5 minutes at a full boil.... I like mine thicker ,so I cook it for 15 extra minutes.(watch or it will boil over).I then pour into hot 1/2 pint jars.Place hot flats and rings on jar and let cool and seal.
This makes it worth all the chiggers and ticks and snakes.13,1/2 pints of jelly for winter.
What I didn't show was the The cheese clothe broke and squirted me with juice/berry seeds.
I also had to clean the stove top and burner where the juice cooked over. I had just mopped my floor and had to re-mop it before I was done. But it was all in a days work. I'm going in a few minutes to pick more berries. I love doing things like this and have picked for years. I really like that they are free for the taking.(Ask permission first).Hubby wants a cobbler to eat, and I want more jelly so its off to pick I go.
Everyone take care, and God bless.
Donna

17 comments:

Diane@Diane's Place said...

You also didn't mention the part about the purple hands that you have for a week or longer, especially around and under your fingernails. Lovely!

I have never used the blender when I made jelly. I just cook the berries down and then put them in my jelly cone and a cloth to drain.

Hope you got a good mess of berries this pickin'. :o)

Love y'all,

Joe

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Okay, now I am tired after all that work! Looks yummy!

Jess said...

Ya..i know nothing about this too, but that is because for some reason I only care for grape jelly and no jam for me either...I know I know....I can't be kin to you...

Cora from Hidden Riches said...

Oh, this is just too good to be true!!!! I'm so glad I found your blog today. I just loved your pictures!!!! You MUST come over to my blog and read my recipe for making jam!!!!! It's a hoot!

Cora

Anita said...

Oh yummy! And I'm sure it was worth all the work!

We were offered some blackberry bushes to plant when we get in our new house.. free! I can't wait! :)

kansasrose said...

They look delicious! I'm going to take your advice and add more sugar/pectin and cook longer than the recommended 5 min on the cherries. I sure admire your grit for braving snakes to get at the fruits. I haven't run across any snakes yet...usually it's when we plow the field late in summer they come out and hang out in our lawn! If you've ever sidestepped a big coiled bullsnake sunning in the grass you remember it. I froze when I realized it was a dang snake. I freeze up when terrified. If it had been a rattler I would have been bit. The Diamond Backs are thick in the sand rock hills west of us.

Like Diane, I cook the fruit down on the stove and strain it. I'd have grapes all over the ceiling if I used my blender. lol. Want some grape jelly in Sept.? I could send ya some. I'll take a few of those blackberry jams in exchange. LOL YUM!

Aunt Jenny said...

Yum yum yum yum yum!!!!! I bet your house smelled wonderful!!!
I always have funny colored hands during canning time!!

Juri said...

I am so glad I found your blog...I have just had a cup of coffee and read quite a bit of posts! Love your chickens! Love the canning! Looking forward to reading more!

Juri

Anonymous said...

Hi Hon,
All the jelly is great! I really admire you for all the work you do. It especially helps us when we don't have to buy it at the local store.
I'm really looking forward to the fig newtons...lol. Love ya a lot.
Johnny

Scott said...

Hi there,

I came to your blog from Diane's blog and love your posts. Those berries look amazing but what alot of work. Have a good day.

Grace

Nancy said...

Hi Donna!

Thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving a comment!

I find your blog very interesting since I have always loved to cook and bake and such! So I'll return again and read some of your older posts.

(((HUGS)))

Donna. W said...

Wow, you're making me tired with all that work! I think I'll go take a nap.

Greeneyes said...

*(Lips smacking together*)
Yummmmmy Yummy , looks good ! A great deal of work and risking snake and bug bites but I bet on a cold winters day you open a bottle for toast or??? it is 1000000 times worth it ! Nothing beats homemade .I hope you get as many berries as you can carry from your picking , and hey, we wanted to see the squished berry picture that gotcha !LOL

MMMMMMM still thinking about that jelly ,,,,,enjoy :)

HUGS

Greeneyes

Pear tree cottage! said...

What lovely jam (we call jelly jam here) I could have done with a jar or two at the high tea.....believe me they ate so much jam on the day.

I will be back to visit you again and share my recipe for our strawberry jam.

see you soon. Lee-ann

Cecil said...

I guess I'm adopted... I have no interest in canning... although the results are quite tasty!! he he he ... Personally, my fav is blueberries!! YUM!! Glad I got to see you... Sorry I was so busy.. As you can see, my laptop is good-to-go!! Whoo hoo!! Marth helped me with it.... Talk to you soon... Love and hugs.. Cecil

kansasrose said...

Do ya have sand plums there? They come on here in August...wild too. Grow in pastures, ditches. Talk about some GOOOOOOD jelly! Wish ya could visit and we could go forage for sand plums and elderberries. WE'd need somethin' to fend off the rattlers, coyotes, bobcats. Any Ideas, nature gal???? :)

Sister said...

Donna,
You may be the hardest working woman I "know". You're amazing. Wish I was there for just a little bitty taste...oh, I know it's good!