Apple Thyme Jelly Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the cider, sugar and thyme in a 4-quart microwave-safe bowl, and
• stir well.
• Cook, uncovered, at full power (650 to 700 watts) for 10 minutes. Stir,
• return to the microwave, and cook until the sugar has dissolved and the
• mixture has reached a full rolling boil, about 5 more minutes.
• Stir the pectin into the mixture, return it to the microwave, and cook for
• 1 1/2 minutes.
• Skim any foam off the surface, and pack the jelly into sterilized jars
• according to the manufacturer's directions. This recipe yields 4 half-pints.
• Comments: A delicate flavor -- just perfect for glazing a simple lamb or
• pork roast.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the jelly, thyme, cinnamon sugar, liquid smoke, apples, a tiny pinch of salt and several grinds of coarse black pepper. Set aside.
• Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil and lay the bacon strips on top. Set the oven to 400 degrees F and place the bacon in the oven as it preheats. Bake until most of the fat is rendered, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and use paper towels to blot as much excess fat as possible.
• Place a wire rack on the baking sheet and lay the bacon back on top. Brush or scoop the glaze over the bacon. Bake until the apple bits are golden and the bacon is crisp, an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Place apples in a large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer until apples are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Crush cooked apples and simmer for 5 more minutes.
• Transfer crushed apples to a sieve or cheesecloth. Let drip into a bowl until all liquid has drained, pressing gently to release all the juice. Measure 5 cups apple juice, adding water if necessary to have exact amount. Stir sugar into juice; add butter to reduce foaming.
• Bring juice mixture to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin; boil for exactly 1 minute to dissolve pectin, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off excess foam with a metal spoon.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Ladle apple jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/8 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours. Store in a cool, dark area. Refrigerate opened jellies for up to 3 weeks.

Steps:

• Cut the apples into 1-inch pieces without peeling or coring, but discard any damaged or spoiled spots.
• Place the apples in a large nonreactive pot and pour in 8 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower heat to maintain a simmer and cook without stirring until the apples soften, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from the heat. Set a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a muslin bag over another large pot, and pour the contents of the pot into the sieve. Do not press on the apples to prevent the jelly from becoming cloudy. You should have at least 7 cups of juice. Some apple varieties absorb more water and may need 2 to 8 hours for the juice to naturally strain out. If that's the case, refrigerate the pot.
• Place a small plate in the freezer to use for testing the setting point of the jelly. Set the pot with the juice over medium-high heat. (Discard the fruit.) Add the sugar and lemon juice, and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a boil, skimming and discarding any foam that rises to the surface. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the liquid reduces by about three-quarters and a candy or deep-fry thermometer registers 225 degrees, 40 to 50 minutes. To test for doneness, spoon a small amount of liquid onto the cold plate from the freezer and return to the freezer to cool completely, about 2 minutes. Drag a spoon through the jelly. The setting point has been reached if it wrinkles and the wrinkles hold their shape. If they don't, continue to cook the jelly and test every few minutes on the cold plate.
• Once the jelly is done cooking, add the salt, stir to dissolve and adjust with more lemon juice, if needed, for a nice balance of sweet and tart with a floral taste. Ladle the hot liquid into clean, sanitized jars, screw on the lids and follow steps to can, or allow to cool to room temperature and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Steps:

• Whisk flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Fill a 1-cup liquid measuring cup with water. Drop in 3 ice cubes; set aside.
• Remove butter and flour mixture from freezer. Grate butter into the flour mixture quickly. Toss using a spatula or an electric mixer to incorporate the grated butter. Drizzle 1/2 cup ice water into the bowl and mix, adding a little more water at a time until dough begins to form large clumps. Gather and lightly knead clumps of dough together into a mound using your hands.
• Divide dough in 1/2 and wrap each portion separately in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to bake, roll dough out on a lightly floured surface and place bottom crust into a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out second crust and slice dough into long, 3/4-inch wide strips using a rotary pizza cutter.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Fill bottom pie crust with apples. Cover with dough strips, weaving into a lattice crust; crimp edges to seal. Place pie in the refrigerator.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar, water, rosemary, and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat quickly and let simmer until rosemary and thyme are very aromatic and sauce has thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Take pie out of the refrigerator and gently and slowly pour caramelized liquid over the crust, distributing it as evenly as possible so that some liquid gets into all openings of the lattice.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Continue baking until apples are soft, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove pie from the oven and let cool on a wire rack before serving.

Steps:

• Combine fruit and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook, partially covered, mashing occasionally with a potato masher, until fruit is very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to a fine sieve set over a heatproof bowl; let drain without pressing on fruit, 4 hours. Strain again through sieve lined with damp cheesecloth. Measure juice; you will have 3 to 4 cups.
• In a large heavy-bottomed pot, bring juice to a boil. Add 3/4 cup sugar for each cup of juice. Add lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Return to a boil and cook, stirring frequently, 8 to 12 minutes. To test if jelly is done, dip a large metal spoon in, lift it horizontally above pot, and let mixture drip back in. Jelly is done when mixture has thickened slightly and drops of it slide together off spoon in a sheet. (Temperature should register 221 degrees on a candy thermometer.) Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jelly into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.