Teach Soap

Today I was taking a break from soap. Thought I would make some jam since I've had grape vines for three years and have never done anything with them. I found a recipe that doesn't have sugar or pectin in it. I thought I would try it. It was supposed to make 4 jars and take about a half our to cook after all of the seeding and stuff. It would not get up to temp 218 for gel point. What I ended up with: a burnt finger, 2 jars of jam, and some beautiful grape seeds to grind up for some soap!!

If anyone has suggestions they can give please do. I have loads of grapes and apples.

Here is the recipe: from Dibs at www.recipezaar.com

Ingredients
3 lbs concord grapes
1 1/2 cups mild flavored honey
Directions
1Wash and stem grapes.
2Place in a large stainless or enamel pot.
3With a potato masher or wooden spoon mash grapes.
4Bring to a gentle boil and reduce heat to an "active" simmer.
5Simmer 10 minutes-you want to be able to crush the center of grapes easily with a wooden spoon-no bouncing back.
6Run the grapes through a food mill to remove seeds.
7Return pulp to the saucepan.
8Bring to a boil and stir in honey.
9Stir often to prevent scorching.
10After about 10 minutes you should not be able to stir down the boil.
11Test for gel point.
12Jelly/puree will begin to darken and thicken up.
13This should take around 15 to 20 minutes from the boil point, but alot depends on the amount of juice your grapes are holding-you could go up to 35 minutes.
14Ladle into clean hot sterile jars leaving 1/4 inch head space, and seal.
15Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes

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Loving making soap again!

Jamielynn

Make apple butter! http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2008/09/1 ... ffee-cake/

This gals blog is awesome for simple lovely recipes and decorating ideas, or just for people who get frustrated with their goats.

Maybe find a recipe for hard cider? YUM

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Not So Plain Jane Jewelry
Silver City, NM

there's always wine, for both apples and grapes.
apple cider, Apple pies, apple juice, apple pancakes etc. apple sauce (have you seen the price of the jarred stuff!)
food network showcased a place in the wine country of CA, that makes a grape pie, they may have the recipe online.

try your hand at making your own raisins? or see about freezing some or storing them somehow and putting them out for the birds in the winter?

The apples are easier than the grapes to use up for sure.
Turkeys LOVE grapes, so early morning and at dusk you could just watch the turkeys eat your grapes. and deer love apples.

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Loving making soap again!

Jamielynn