Plum And Tarragon Jelly Recipes

WILD PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• In a stockpot, simmer plums and water until tender, about 30 minutes. Line a strainer with four layers of cheesecloth and place over a bowl. Place plum mixture in strainer; cover with edges of cheesecloth. Let stand until liquid measures 5-1/2 cups, about 30 minutes., Return liquid to the pan. Add pectin; stir and bring to a boil. Add sugar; bring to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly., Remove from the heat; skim off any foam. Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles; wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water canner.

PLUM JELLY

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.

PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• Combine plums, sugar, and water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Lower heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until mixture has thickened to desired consistency, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, inspect five 8-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jelly is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Remove jelly from the heat and skim off any heavy foam. Ladle hot jelly into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/2 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on finger-tight.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 15 minutes. Remove jars from water bath and tighten rings.
• Place jars on a towel to cool until lids pop. Press lids to confirm the seal.

PLUM SOUP WITH HONEYDEW TARRAGON ICE

Steps:

• Make honeydew ice:
• Bring water and sugar to a simmer, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Transfer 1/2 cup hot syrup to a bowl and stir in tarragon, then cool. Chill remaining syrup.
• Pour tarragon syrup through a very fine sieve into a metal bowl, discarding solids. Purée honeydew in a blender and stir into strained tarragon syrup. Freeze in ice cream maker, then transfer to an airtight container and put in freezer to harden.
• Make plum soup:
• Dice enough of plums to measure 1/2 cup and reserve. Coarsely chop remaining plums and purée in 2 batches with 1 cup chilled syrup (total) in a blender. Pour purée through very fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on and discarding solids.
• Stir in diced plums, lime juice, and chilled syrup to taste.
• Serve soup immediately, topped with scoops of honeydew ice.

GRANDMA'S PLUM AND ALMOND SKILLET JAM

Steps:

• Halve the plums, remove the pits and coarsely chop into 1/2-inch pieces (leave unpeeled). Combine the plums, sugar, almond extract and lemon juice in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until the plums are thick and jammy, about 15 to 20 minutes. (Sugar content of fresh fruit varies, so taste your preserves after 10 minutes and add a touch more sugar if necessary.) Remove from heat and mash the fruit with a potato masher until is it mostly smooth with some texture still remaining. Cool the jam and store in clean jars in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

VANILLA CARDAMOM PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• Prepare jars and lids by sterilizing in hot water.
• Line a colander with cheesecloth and place it inside a bowl.
• Bring plums, water, brandy, lemon juice, and cardamom to a boil in large pot over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until fruit is soft, about 15 minutes.
• Pour plum mixture into colander. Without pressing on fruit, let mixture drain until all juice has strained into the bowl, about 45 minutes. Add water to make 2 3/4 C juice.
• Return juice to pot with pectin, vanilla and bring to a full boil over high heat until mixture doesn't stop bubbling when stirred.
• Stir in sugar and return mixture to a full boil. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Remove pot from heat. Skim off and discard any foam from top.
• Ladle jelly into hot jars, filling them to within 1/4 inch of their rims. Cover each jar with a two-piece lid. Return jars to canner.
• Process filled jars for 5 minutes, beginning timing when water comes to a boil. After 5 minutes, turn off heat and remove canner lid. Allow jars to rest in hot water 5 minutes.

SURE.JELL PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain jars well before filling.
• Pit plums. Do not peel. Finely chop or grind fruit. Place fruit in saucepan; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 min., stirring occasionally. Place three layers of damp cheesecloth or a jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 5-1/2 cups prepared juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot.
• Stir pectin into juice in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring mixture to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Bring to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with two-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middles of lids with finger. (If lids spring back, lids are not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

PLUM, RASPBERRY, AND TARRAGON SOUP

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Add plums; blanch until skin begins to peel, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove plums from water; place in the ice bath until cool. Remove plums from ice bath, reserving ice bath.
• Peel plums, remove pits, cut into chunks, and place in a medium saucepan. Add the raspberries, wine, sugar, tarragon, triple sec (if using), and the water to the saucepan; cover, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium low, and allow to simmer until plums are falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer to a clean bowl, and place in the reserved ice bath, stirring occasionally, until cold.
• Remove tarragon sprigs from cold mixture, and transfer mixture to a blender. Puree, working in batches if necessary. Serve garnished with diced plum, raspberries, and tarragon.

PLUM AND TARRAGON JELLY

Steps:

• 1. Combine 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar in a deep pan, boil until the sugar dissolves.
• 2. Add plums cut in halves. The pan/pot must be big enough to hold it all. Mine is a 3-liter, works well.
• 3. Let simmer on low heat stirring regularly but gently, so all plums are covered in the syrup but not broken. Some will break, so don't let the perfectionist in you go bezerk.
• 4. When all plums have boiled for a bit, remove from heat. This can be done the day before, or whenever you have a bit of time and plums aplenty to play with.
• 5. For the tarragon jelly, wash and let dry the herb, chop or tear the leaves and stalks together, cutting off the rough bottom parts and any dirty or rotten leaves.
• 6. Put the tarragon into a small pot, add 2 cups water and citric acid (or 2 cups apple/grape vinegar) and bring to boil on low heat.
• 7. Add 1 cup sugar, continue simmerring until the sugar dissolves. Honey works well instead but mind the dosage.
• 8. Remove from heat, let cool to room temperature, then drain the syrup. throw away the leaves.
• 9. Going back to plums. Remove the whole and broken (if any) plums from the pot or drain the syrup. You should have about 0.5-0.7 liter of syrup depending on how juicy your plums are. Use the plums for another jam, pies or whatever, we don't need them here any more.
• 10. Combine the plum syrup and the tarragon syrup in one pot, taste for sweetness/acidity. If too sweet, add some lemon juice.
• 11. Add pectin, agar-agar or any other gellant but not gelatine! Use the instructions for the dosage on the gellant package.
• 12. Bring to boil on low heat stirring regularly to avoid pectin lumps. Do not boil for over 3 minutes or the gellant will break down.
• 13. Pour into jars, cover. Make sure the jars are filled to the brim to avoid air under the lid.
• 14. Enjoy!