How to make crabapple jelly step six

I realized when I listened to this that I refer to both a 10 minute and 15 minute water bath processing time. It is in fact 10 minutes for jelly. Old time jelly girls didn't used to do this step but it is now advised and if they say to do it I do it. As these videos show we are running a first class operation around here.

Merry Christmas!

How to make crabapple jelly step five

How to make crabapple jelly step four

After you have drained the juice measure 5 cups and add it to a pot with 3 3/4 cups of sugar and three tablespoons of lemon juice. Boil hard 40-50 minutes until it sheets from the back of a spoon.

Christmas morning communication: how to make crab apple jelly step one to three

Here we go with my step-by-step instructions for making crabapple jelly - something you can't buy in the store.

The jelly or the instructions.

First of all wash and cut the blossom and stem ends from about 2 kg. or 4.5 pounds of crabapples, about 5 cups. Cut the apples roughly into about quarters and put in a big deep pot with 7 cups of water. Boil until they are real mushy about 50 minutes or so.

Put the mushy apples into a jelly bag and hang over night.

I filmed this last step sideways for interest.

Pre-Christmas thoughts

A couple of things.

First is to those of you who are spending today with your head in a doll's house Modge Podging wall paper. That stuff's a bitch to get out of your hair if you let it set over night.

Secondly there was an op. ed. in the NY Times this morning that really annoyed me. It is here, all about what to do with the rest of your life when you have had your peak. I sort of get the point but.

Honestly.

If you have been given a gift in your life you just spend the rest of your time giving something back to life, according to your talents. There isn't a person alive who can't do something for someone. Even if what you provide is an example of how to get on with the rest of your life. 

That's the deal. That's the deal.

Thirdly some of you may remember that the adult side of my extended family decided, organized by my sister Nancy, to do an emailed exchange this year.

This is the email she sent out a few month's ago that describes the idea:


Well my lovely family it is that time of year again.  

    We all have so much to be thankful for that a purchased gift just doesn't seem right this year. I have come up with a different idea, that I hope you all will be willing to try this year. 

   I would like each and everyone of you to take a few minutes and prepare a special email that will be sent out to everyone on Christmas morning.

    You can write about anything, something about yourself you would like to share. Here are a few examples

      

Favorite recipe

Some tips on, cleaning, raising kids, managing money, gardening, organizing your day, office and life.

Favorite joke, book or how about your idol and why

What you would do if you won the lottery.

Confess your sins, we won't tell a soul.

 Ask us for advice

 Write about anything, just a little something to keep us all in touch. It doesn't have to be long but make it good!

Prepare it before hand and on Christmas morning... hit send

Don't forget or you will look like and idiot. 

Mine is underway and I have decided to also publish it here on Christmas morning so family who may have trouble accessing the file on say their smart phones can see it.

A little nutty but that may be the point.

Merry Christmas.