Currant And Port Jelly Recipes

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine currants with 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until fruit has broken down and released its juices, about 8 minutes. Mash the fruit mixture with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon. Strain through a fine sieve into a large measuring cup, pressing on the solids to extract as much juice as possible. You should have about 4 cups juice. Discard solids.
• Place a small plate in the freezer. Return juice to clean saucepan; add sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. When teaspoon of jelly placed on chilled plate ripples if pushed with your finger, it is ready.
• Remove jelly from heat, and skim off any foam from surface. Ladle jelly into sterilized canning jars; wipe rims with a dishtowel. Seal tightly.
• Meanwhile, bring a stockpot of water to a boil over high heat. Using tongs, carefully place filled jars in boiling water, letting them sit 10 minutes. Remove; let cool. If center of jar lids give when pushed with finger, jars have not sealed properly. Jelly in sealed jars will keep up to 1 year. After opening, jelly will keep up to 2 months in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• To make the skillet cake batter, whisk together the eggs, milk and 2 tablespoons butter, melted. Mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and zest. Combine the flour with the liquids and allow batter to rest, refrigerated, for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
• Peel, core, and cut the apples into 1/2-inch thick slices. In a separate pan, melt 2 tablespoons butter, add the apple slices and saute over medium heat until they turn a rich golden color, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and carefully add the maple syrup, Port, cinnamon, and lemon juice. Cook slowly until the apples are tender at the center of each slice, but not soft and mushy, about 2 minutes.
• Heat a non-stick 7-inch omelet pan over low heat until hot. Add 1 or 2 teaspoons of butter, melted, using either a brush or a tiny ladle, to coat the surface lightly. As soon as the butter has started to bubble, lift the pan off the heat and pour 1/2 cup of batter into the pan, tilting to spread the batter evenly across the bottom. Return the pan to heat, spoon in 1/4 of the apples and cook on low until golden on the underside. When the top is bubbly, flip and brown the second side.
• As each pancake is completed, place on an oven-proof platter set in a 200 degree oven. There should be enough batter to make at least 4 skillet cakes.
• Serve each cake warm with a dollop of currant jelly and some clotted cream or creme fraiche.

Steps:

• There is no need to remove the currants from their stalks.
• Put the currants in a preserving pan with the water and simmer gently for 30 minutes, until the fruit is really soft and pulpy.
• Stir from time to time to prevent sticking.
• Spoon the fruit pulp into a jelly bag or cloth attached to the legs of an upturned stool, and leave to strain into a large bowl for at least 12 hours.
• Do not squeeze. Discard the pulp remaining in the jelly bag.
• Measure the extract and return it to the pan with 450g sugar for each 600 ml extract. Heat gently, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved, then boil rapidly for about 15 minutes.
• Test for a set and, when the setting point is reached, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the port, skim the surface with a slotted spoon and pot and cover the jelly.

Steps:

• Pick over the currants, removing leaves and poor berries but do not stem them.
• Put currants in a colander and wash well.
• Pour into a pot and mash well with a potato masher.
• Boil until the berries become a mush and allow to drip through a jelly bag overnight.
• Do not squeeze the mash if you want sparkling, clear jelly.
• Next morning, measure the juice and put an equal amount of sugar into another vessel.
• Warm the sugar in a very slow oven-- about 150 F to 200 F-- for 1/2 hour or so.
• Heat the juice to the boiling point and pour over sugar into another container.
• Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.
• Do not cook mixture.
• Instead, pour into glasses while still hot.
• It will jell perfectly.
• Seal the glasses with 2 thin layers of paraffin and a lid.

Steps:

• Using a potato masher or an immersion blender, crush currants in a large Dutch oven.
• Add water& bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; reduce heat, cover& simmer until currents are softened& deflated, about 10 minutes.
• Wet a jelly bag (I use cheesecloth), wring out& suspend on a frame over a large measuring cup or bowl.
• Fill with currants& liquid; let drip, pressing bag lightly, until juice measures 6 1/2 cups, about 2 1/2 hours.
• Stirring constantly, bring juice& pectin to a boil in a large, clean pot.
• Add sugar, bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constsntly with a wooden spoon; Boil vigorously, stirring, for a minute.
• Remove from heat, skim off foam& pour into hot canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace.
• Wipe rims (if necessary), cover with prepared lids& screw on bands fingertip tight.
• Boil in boiling water canner for 10 minutes.

Steps:

• Place the currants into a large pot, and crush with a potato masher or berry crusher if you have one. Pour in 1 cup of water, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the fruit through a jelly cloth or cheese cloth, and measure out 5 cups of the juice.
• Pour the juice into a large saucepan, and stir in the sugar. Bring to a rapid boil over high heat, and stir in the liquid pectin immediately. Return to a full rolling boil, and allow to boil for 30 seconds.
• Remove from heat and skim off foam from the top. Ladle or pour into sterile 1/2 pint jars, filling to within 1/2 inch of the top. Wipe the rims with a clean damp cloth. Cover with new sterile lids and rings. Process covered in a bath of simmering water for 10 minutes or the time recommended by your local extension for your area.