Grape Walnut Conserve Recipes

GRAPE-WALNUT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Bring 1 1/2 pounds seedless green grapes, 3/4 cup sugar, 4 wide strips orange zest, 1/4 cup raisins, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly and mashing the grapes against the side of the pan with a wooden spoon, until the mixture coats the spoon, 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped walnuts. Fill sterilized jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace, then seal and process (see Cook's Note) for 15 minutes.

CRANBERRY, APPLE, AND WALNUT CONSERVE

Steps:

• Simmer water, sugar, cinnamon stick, allspice, and half of cranberries (about 5 1/2 cups) in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until cranberries just start to pop, about 5 minutes. Add half of remaining cranberries (about 3 cups) and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel and core apples, then cut into 1/4-inch dice. Add to cranberry mixture along with walnuts and remaining cranberries, then simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Stir in Calvados and simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat and cool to warm or room temperature. Discard cinnamon stick.

GRAPE-WALNUT SALAD

Steps:

• Place grapes in a large bowl. Stir in the walnuts. Pour the blue cheese dressing over the grape mixture and stir until everything is evenly coated. Chill until ready to serve.

CONCORD GRAPE CONSERVE

Steps:

• Slip skins off grapes and reserve.
• Bring pulp to a boil in a stainless or enamel saucepan.
• Simmer over low heat until seeds are loosened.
• Press Pulp through a food mill or ricer to remove seeds.
• Combine grape puree, grape skins, honey, lemon slices, raisins and pecans.
• Simmer over low heat to plump raisins, around 10-12 minutes.
• Pour into hot, sterile jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Seal.
• Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath.
• Altitudes higher than 1000 feet see adjustment chart.

CONCORD GRAPE JAM

Steps:

• Sterilize jars:
• Wash jars, lids, and screw bands in hot, soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw bands. Put jars on a rack in canner or deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, leaving jars in water. Heat lids in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat, leaving lids in water. Keep the jars and lids submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use.
• Cook jam:
• Chill 2 small plates (for testing jam).
• Slip skins from grapes and purée skins with 1 cup sugar in a food processor, then transfer to a 4- to 6-quart wide heavy pot. Stir in lemon juice, peeled grapes, and remaining 4 cups sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring frequently and skimming foam, until pulp is broken down, about 20 minutes. Force jam through food mill set over a large bowl. Discard remaining solids. Return jam to pot and cook at a slow boil, skimming foam occasionally and stirring frequently as mixture thickens to prevent scorching, 35 minutes, then test for doneness.
• To test jam, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on a chilled plate and chill 1 minute. Tilt plate: Jam should remain in a mound and not run. If jam runs, continue cooking at a slow boil, testing every 5 minutes, until done, up to 25 minutes more.
• Seal, process, and store jars:
• Drain jars upside down on a clean kitchen towel 1 minute, then invert. Ladle jam into jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at top. Wipe off rims of filled jars with a clean damp kitchen towel, then top with lids and firmly screw on screw bands. Put sealed jars on rack in canner or pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. With tongs, transfer jars to a towel-lined surface to cool.
• Jars will seal; if you hear a ping, it signals that vacuum formed at the top of cooling preserves has made lid concave. Remember that you may or may not be around to hear that ping (some jars make the sound after you remove them from water, and others in same batch may take a few hours); the important thing is for jars to eventually have concave lids. Preserves will thicken as they cool.
• After jars have cooled 12 to 24 hours, press center of each lid to check that it's concave, then remove screw band and try to lift off lid with your fingertips. If you can't, lid has a good seal. Replace screw band. Put any jars that haven't sealed properly in the refrigerator and use them first.