Nothing compares to the memory of eating strawberry jelly fresh from your grandmother's kitchen. In the age of travel, many families are no longer close enough to learn those priceless cooking techniques, and recipes get lost. If you are looking for the perfect strawberry jelly recipe, you've come to the right place. You should know that the art of making strawberry jelly isn't any easier than it was when your grandmother made it.
Preparation
Wash six cups of strawberries and remove the hulls. Slice them into quarters and place into a large pot. Pour in three cups of sugar and mix thoroughly. Bring the mixture to a slow boil and continue until the juice is clear. Next, stir in the juice of half a lemon and remove from the heat. Cover and let stand overnight.
The next morning, when you are ready to finish your jelly, sterilize your canning jars and lids for five minutes in boiling water. Let the jars sit in the water while you finish making your strawberry jelly.
Making the Jelly
Pour the mixture of strawberries, sugar and lemon juice into a clean pot. Heat over medium-high heat until it reaches a slow boil. Lower the heat, stirring constantly for five minutes, until the mixture is the consistency of preserves. Remove the jars from the water and fill them carefully, using a ladle, with the strawberry jelly mixture. Leave about one-fourth of an inch of room at the top of the jar, making sure not to overfill it. Place the lids on the jars, screwing them on tightly.
The Canning Process
Bring the water that the jars were in back to a boil. Place a canning rack in the pot. Using a canning lifter, with rubber grips on the ends for safely picking up and moving the jars, place them in the rack. It's imperative that the water cover the jars completely, or you may find yourself covered in dangerously hot, sticky jelly if the jars explode. Allow to boil for five minutes. Lift the entire rack with the canning jars from the water and set aside for half an hour. Press the center of the lid to see if it pops back. If it does not, your jars are safely sealed. Allow to set until they are cool enough to put in the pantry or refrigerator.
Tags: five minutes, strawberry jelly, canning jars, from water, jars from, jars from water
