Seedless Fig Juice For Jelly Recipes

HOMEMADE FRESH FIG JAM

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine the figs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
• Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
• While figs are cooking, prepare the jars and lids. Put the glass jars in a boiling water canner about half-filled with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and keep jars in the water.
• Put water in a separate saucepan, bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and add the jar lids. Keep in the hot water until ready to use. Do not boil.
• After cooking the fig mixture for 1 hour, attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, making sure the tip of the thermometer doesn't touch the pan's bottom, and continue simmering, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens. When the mixture gets quite thick, begin to stir constantly to keep it from scorching.
• Cook to 220 F and remove from the heat. Or, test a small amount on a very cold saucer by putting the saucer in the freezer for a few minutes, adding a little of the fig mixture on it, and returning the saucer to the freezer for one minute. When a good gel stage is reached (220 F), the surface of the fruit mixture will wrinkle slightly when pushed with a finger or teaspoon.
• Fill the prepared jars with the hot fig jam mixture, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rims and threads with a wet paper towel. Place the lids on the jars using tongs or a jar magnet then screw on the rings.
• Place the jars on a rack in the hot water inside of the canner. Lower into the water and add enough hot or boiling water to bring the water level to 1 to 2 inches above the jars. Bring jars to a boil for 10 minutes.
• Using canning tongs, remove the jars and place them on top of a clean towel on a flat work surface. Listen for a popping sound, which indicates a good seal, and tighten the rings.
• Let the jars cool to room temperature and store in a cool, dry, dark place.

REAL FIG PRESERVES

Steps:

• Dissolve the baking soda in about 2 quarts of cool water, and immerse the figs in the treated water in a large bowl. Gently stir to wash the figs, then drain off the water and rinse the figs thoroughly with fresh cool water. Place the figs into a large pot. Add 1 cup water, sugar, butter, vanilla extract, lemon, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Very gently stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar, keeping the figs intact as much as possible.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat; reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until the figs are golden brown and coated in syrup, about 1 hour. Stir gently a couple of times to keep the figs from burning onto the bottom of the pot. Add a pinch of salt, if desired, to tame the sweetness.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the figs into the hot, sterilized jars and top off with syrup, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 15 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area, and wait at least 2 days before opening.

FIG AND GRAPE PRESERVES

Steps:

• Place first 5 ingredients in medium sauce-pan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Uncover and increase heat to medium; simmer until liquid is reduced to syrup, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Transfer to bowl. Stir in lemon juice. Cool. (Can be made 1 week ahead. Cover; chill.)

FIG JELLY (SEEDLESS)

Steps:

• Clean, sterilize, and prep jars and lids according to manufacturer's directions.
• In a large pot combine fig juice and pectin and bring to a boil. Add the sugar, stirring until all the sugar is dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil for 1 minute, and then remove from heat.
• Put immediately into hot prepared jars. Seal and process in hot water bath (see instructions included with jars or pectin).

BOYSENBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• Inspect four 32-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.
• Crush boysenberries in a large bowl with the back of a spoon or a potato masher. Add crushed fruit into a sieve or cheesecloth set over a bowl and let juices drip into the bowl until dripping stops. Press gently to get as much juice out of the berries as possible. Measure 4 cups of juice into a large pot. If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup of water to get the exact amount of juice.
• Stir sugar into the juice and butter to reduce foaming.
• Bring mixture to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin quickly. Return to a full boil and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
• Skim off any foam with metal spoon. Ladle quickly into prepared jars, filling within 1/8 inch of tops.
• 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 5 minutes.
• Remove jars from water and cool. Let stand at room temperature for 24 hours.

SEEDLESS FIG JUICE (FOR JELLY)

Steps:

• Clean, stem, and cut figs into pieces (don't peel). Place the cut up figs in a large pot with enough water to cover them. Add lemon juice and bring to a boil. Cook until the figs are very soft. Puree with a hand held blender till the sauce has an even consistency (similar to applesauce). Remove from heat. Stir in sugar and let stand 5 minutes.
• Place a metal mesh strainer over a pitcher or large bowl. Pour mixture through the strainer, about one or two cups at a time, periodically removing the pulp from the strainer. Place the strained pulp into a jelly bag (or onto a large square of cheesecloth that is 4-6 layers thick and tied into a bag) and hang over a bowl. Let the pulp drip to remove remaining juice. If there are still seeds in the pitcher, pour through the strainer a second time (juice will be cloudy).
• Add water or fruit juice if needed to equal 5 cups of fig juice. If you prefer very clear jelly with essentially no pulp at all, don't use the metal strainer and just put the mixture through the cheesecloth or jelly bag (of course it will take significantly longer for the juice to drip through). Refrigerate the juice until ready to use.