We Be Jamming
Friday night was Grape Night at the house. After a long week of work, we came home and cut grapes off the arbors in the backyard. Our intent is to eventually make grape jelly, and tonight was the first step.
Doing my best to dodge the floodwater mosquitoes, we picked around 10 pounds of grapes, leaving a few of the greener ones for the woodchuck. (We haven't been able to figure out if he is dexterous enough to eat grapes off the vine or not.)
After washing and stemming, it was time to mash. We transferred all 10 pounds to a giant plastic bucket and tried to take a potato masher to them.
Too slow. So Meg thought she'd stomp around in them instead.
I thought this was a great idea, so I gave it a try while Meg rested.
We then realized that we could alternate stomping and each fit a foot in the bucket.
They say the hands are one of the best tools in the kitchen. I have to say that the feet are a close second.
So all of this stomping around worked great, until Meg realized that the plastic bag around her foot broke. We weren't too worried, as we were just going to boil the mash when we were done. That and any foot dirt would get strained out. Then my bag broke as well.
After a thorough foot cleansing, we boiled the mash.
It looks incredibly vile, but I can tell you that it smelled delicious.
It was at this point that we rigged up our own version of a jelly bag by bungeeing muslin around the bucket and pouring the mixture through. I read about the muslin technique online, and Meg thought up the bungee idea. We make a good team.
On Sunday, we successfully preserved with no casualties1.
Yes, that's 24 jars of jelly. It's really good jelly, too. Not as sweet as Smuckers, yet grapier. I think it's lighter in color because either we picked the grapes a bit on the underripe side, or because we added the white concords.
We have mostly determined their recipients, but there are a couple to spare. If you think you need a jar of homemade grape jelly, leave us a convincing argument in the comments -- best one wins. Maybe we'll let Angus pick. Maybe we'll send Angus to the runner-up.
1The last time we tried this, I dropped and shattered an entire jar of would-be blueberry jam on the floor... and all over Meg's backpack.
Doing my best to dodge the floodwater mosquitoes, we picked around 10 pounds of grapes, leaving a few of the greener ones for the woodchuck. (We haven't been able to figure out if he is dexterous enough to eat grapes off the vine or not.)
After washing and stemming, it was time to mash. We transferred all 10 pounds to a giant plastic bucket and tried to take a potato masher to them.
Too slow. So Meg thought she'd stomp around in them instead.
I thought this was a great idea, so I gave it a try while Meg rested.
We then realized that we could alternate stomping and each fit a foot in the bucket.
They say the hands are one of the best tools in the kitchen. I have to say that the feet are a close second.
So all of this stomping around worked great, until Meg realized that the plastic bag around her foot broke. We weren't too worried, as we were just going to boil the mash when we were done. That and any foot dirt would get strained out. Then my bag broke as well.
After a thorough foot cleansing, we boiled the mash.
It looks incredibly vile, but I can tell you that it smelled delicious.
It was at this point that we rigged up our own version of a jelly bag by bungeeing muslin around the bucket and pouring the mixture through. I read about the muslin technique online, and Meg thought up the bungee idea. We make a good team.
On Sunday, we successfully preserved with no casualties1.
Yes, that's 24 jars of jelly. It's really good jelly, too. Not as sweet as Smuckers, yet grapier. I think it's lighter in color because either we picked the grapes a bit on the underripe side, or because we added the white concords.
We have mostly determined their recipients, but there are a couple to spare. If you think you need a jar of homemade grape jelly, leave us a convincing argument in the comments -- best one wins. Maybe we'll let Angus pick. Maybe we'll send Angus to the runner-up.
1The last time we tried this, I dropped and shattered an entire jar of would-be blueberry jam on the floor... and all over Meg's backpack.
Comments
I don't really have anything to bribe you with, other than maybe distracting Angus the next time I come out to your place so you can get some stuff done bite-free! Or maybe sticking around and keeping you company the next time we work a show at the school together. :)
Congrats on the jelly, by the way! My mom used to make crabapple jelly from the tree in our front yard. YUMMY! I miss having homemade jelly. *sniffle*
Love,
Katie
Really, how can you go wrong with an argument like that?
Give the jelly to those who truly appreciate the work and who genuinely like grape jelly.
Thanks for the memory.
I'm sure there are other much more jelly-needy people you can give your leftover jars to... Tell you what... How about just save us a bite each and a piece of bread to toast for it. :D
I would love grape jelly. I nearly screamed when I saw the two alternating feet, adorable. I have always wanted to make a huge batch of jelly, but I have only managed a few jars of Jalepeno jelly a few years ago. I would gladly make some more to trade! Oh, oh, oh...or...my grandmother used to make jelly from the beans of the thousand Mesquite trees that grow around here. I have always wanted a reason to try that. It tasted so clean and sweet. Do those kind of bribes work? It is nothing like fiber from Franklin.
And in High School I carried around a rubber chicken in my pocket every day. His name was Komahuhawknamikakanop (okay, I am not sure how to spell it, but that was it phonetically.) Anyway, I will assume his favorite jelly was grape. :)
But then I do deserve jelly for admitting it. :P
I just wanted to let you know that when I got home from Rhinebeck, the jelly was sitting on my front porch.
I brought it in to work today and we all ate it on matzoh. My co-worker declared it the most delicious jelly he's ever had and said "it's like eating sunshine". :-)
Great job, and THANK YOU!!!