Jellies, Jams and Conserves, Oh My!

[Britesea]

Here is the recipe I found for Rose Petal Jelly (Martha Stewart Living- yes, The Woman Who Does Everything More Beautifully Than You!). It differs from my old recipe only in the addition of rose water, which I suspect just kicks the rose flavor up a notch.

Ingredients
2 cups water
3 cups unsprayed pink rose petals (remove the bitter point at the base of the petals)
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 ounces liquid pectin (might need a second package)
1 tablespoon rose water

Directions
Bring the water to a boil, then remove from heat. Add petals, cover, and steep for 30 minutes. Strain liquid into clean saucepan and discard petals.
Add sugar and lemon juice to pan. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring, over medium high heat. Boil 2 minutes; add pectin, and boil 2 minutes (for firmer jelly, boil up to 2 minutes more). Remove from heat, add rose water. Pour into sterilized jars, let cool completely. Store in refrigerator up to 6 months.

My old recipe had these directions for longer pantry storage:
Remove from heat and ladle jelly into sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Add sterilized lids and rings. Process in water bath for 5 minutes at sea level to 1000 feet elevation (add 5 minutes if you are between 1,001-3000 feet, add 10 minutes if you are at 3,001-6000 feet, add 15 minutes for anything over that)

 

[MoonShadows]

FROM WEBMD.COM

ELDERBERRY

Other Names:

Arbre de Judas, Baccae, Baises de Sureau, Black-Berried Alder, Black Elder, Black Elderberry, Boor Tree, Bountry, Elder, Common Elder. Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder, European Black Elder, Europea...
See All NamesArbre de Judas, Baccae, Baises de Sureau, Black-Berried Alder, Black Elder, Black Elderberry, Boor Tree, Bountry, Elder, Common Elder. Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder, European Black Elder, European Black Elderberry, European Elderberry, European Elder Fruit, European Elderberry, Fruit de Sureau, Grand Sureau, Hautbois, Holunderbeeren, Sabugeuiro-negro, Sambequier, Sambu, Sambuc, Sambuci Sambucus, Sambucus nigra, Sambugo, Sauco, Saúco Europeo, Schwarzer Holunder, Seuillet, Seuillon, Sureau, Sureau Européen, Sureau Noir, Sus, Suseau, Sussier.

ELDERBERRY Overview Information

Elderberry is a plant. The berries are used to make medicine. Do not confuse elderberry with American Elder, Elderflower, or Dwarf Elder.

Elderberry is used for “the flu” (influenza), H1N1 "swine" flu, HIV/AIDS, and boosting the immune system. It is also used for sinus pain, back and leg pain (sciatica), nerve pain (neuralgia), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) .

Some people use elderberry for hay fever (allergic rhinitis), cancer, as a laxative for constipation, to increase urine flow, and to cause sweating.

Elderberry fruit is also used for making wine and as a food flavoring.

How does it work?

Elderberry might affect the immune system. Elderberry seems to have activity against viruses including the flu, and might reduce inflammation.

Possibly Effective for:

“The flu,” also called influenza. A specific syrup containing elderberry juice (Sambucol, Nature’s Way) seems to relieve flu symptoms and reduce the length of time the flu lasts when taken by mouth within 24-48 hours of the first symptoms. Some research also shows that an elderberry lozenge (ViraBLOC, HerbalScience) also reduces symptoms of the flu. Symptom relief seems to occur within 2 to 4 days of treatment for most people.

Insufficient Evidence for:

Heart disease. Early evidence shows that taking elderberry extract daily for 12 weeks does not reduce symptoms of heart disease in postmenopausal women.

High cholesterol. Early evidence shows that taking capsules containing dried elderberry three times daily for 2 weeks does not reduce cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.

Cancer.

Constipation.

Nerve pain.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

H1N1 "swine" flu.

Hay fever.

HIV/AIDS.

Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate elderberry for these uses.

ELDERBERRY Side Effects & Safety

Taking an elderberry juice extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks. It’s not known if taking elderberry juice extract is safe when used for long periods of time.

Elderberry is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when the leaves, stems, unripened fruit, or uncooked fruit is consumed. The cooked elderberry fruit seems to be safe, but raw and unripe fruit might cause nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the safety of using elderberry during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

“Autoimmune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Elderberry might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using elderberry.

Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with ELDERBERRY

Elderberry can increase the immune system. Taking elderberry along with some medications that decrease the immune system might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system.

Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.


ELDERBERRY Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

The flu: one tablespoon (15 mL) 4 times daily of a specific elderberry juice-containing syrup (Sambucol, Nature’s Way) daily for 3-5 days. A dose of 15 mL (1 tablespoon) twice daily for 3 days has been used in children. A specific elderberry lozenge (ViraBLOC, HerbalScience) 175 mg 4 times daily for 2 days.

 

[lcertuche]

Well I made 4 jars of jalapeno jelly. It's pretty but not sure how well it will set up. I tweaked it from a couple of recipes along with my own preferences. It taste amazing, not too hot but with a little zing and I use cranberry juice giving it a rosy glow with flecks of pepper. If I can get the recipe perfected I may try selling a few jars at the local Trade Days.

 

[baymule]

Yup I have to make some zucchini bread soon too... I add chocolate chips to mine... The zucchini cancels them out right?

Not to worry. Chocolate is a vegetable! Cocoa BEANS!! DUH!!! Milk chocolate is even better for you because it has cocoa BEANS, DAIRY, and the sugar comes from BEETS! So every Hershey's bar has TWO servings of VEGETABLES and one serving of DAIRY!!!

 

[Britesea]

SUCCESS! Everything gelled up nicely.

 

[Denim Deb]

Has anyone tried to use crab apples instead?

 

[Corn Woman]

I only use the powdered stuff and the low or no sugar type. I just can't bring myself to put more sugar than fruit in my jams and jellies. I do however use the liquid Certo for my pepper jelly because the finished product actually looks better.

 

[Britesea]

I prefer the powdered low sugar pectin as well.

 

[lcertuche]

I just realize how old this post is, sorry but I stand by my words, lol.

 

[MoonShadows]

That is why Elderberry Jelly is an "old timer". The elderberries grow wild around here, and they are free!