Vanilla Cardamom Plum Jelly Recipes

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.

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.

YUMMY SPICED PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• Wash plums and put in large pot. (I used red plums).
• Add 1/2 cup of water per pound of plums, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cardamom pods that have been cracked open.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring frequently.
• Once boiling reduce heat to a simmer and mash plums with a potato masher. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring and smooshing plums occasionally.
• Put a colander or sieve over a large bowl. Line the colander with a triple layer of cheese cloth or with a J cloth (I use two J cloths crisscrossed to cover all the holes in the colander).
• Pour the plum mixture into the lines colander and let drain for about 2 hours until it stops dripping. Don't squish or else you will get cloudy jelly.
• Measure out 4 cups of plum juice, sugar, and vanilla into a large stainless steel pot. DO NOT double the recipe because it can affect setting of the jelly.
• Stirring constantly, over high heat, bring the mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down.
• Add the pectin and return to a boil then boil for one full minute while stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and skim off foam. (I find it easiest to skim foam using a cold metal spoon).
• Use a ladle to pour jelly in to hot clean jars. (Jars must be hot so the temperature of the jelly isn't a shock to the jars causing them to break). Be sure to leave 1/4 inch of space.
• Wipe the rims of the jars, place metal snap lids on top and thread metal rings in place. Do not over tighten the metal rings or air won't be able to escape.
• Place jars in water bath canner making sure they're completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes.

PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Place the plums and sugar in a heavy-bottomed jam pot, ensuring that they fill it no more than halfway (the jam will foam up during cooking).
• Turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently to avoid scorching (8-10 minutes).
• Once the plum/sugar mixture is boiling hard, turn the heat down a bit to medium or medium-high to prevent scorching or overflows. Continue to stir frequently, and cook until the jam reaches gel stage. (That's 220 degrees when tested with an instant-read thermometer). It should take roughly 20 minutes at a boil, or 30 minutes total cook time, but can vary based on the fruit used.
• Once it reaches gel stage, ladle the mixture into prepared jars. Store in the refrigerator for immediate use, or freezer for up to 6 months. Or water bath can for long term storage.

DAMSON PLUM CARDAMOM JAM

Steps:

• In a sink full of cool water, rinse and de-stem the plums. Place them in a thick-bottomed pan suitable for slow cooking and deep enough to allow frothing when the plums begin to boil. Add the water and cardamom pods and bring the mixture to a low boil over medium heat. Turn heat to low for a slow simmer and allow the fruit to cook down uncovered for 1 1/2 hours. Allow the plums to cool.
• To pit the plums, strain the cooled plums with a colander, pressing the juice out with your hands and collecting it in a large bowl. Pick up the pit-and-fruit slurry in the colander by small handfuls and squeeze the plum pulp and skins gently into the bowl with the syrup, retaining the pits in the palm of your hand and then discarding them.
• Put the plums back into the original pot with the sugar and butter. Cook at a very low simmer until the mixture begins to thicken, about 4 hours. To test for adequate development of pectin, drop a spoonful of the jam on a plate and put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes: the mixture should be soft-set and no longer syrupy.
• Ladle the hot jam into hot, sterile jars, wipe the rims clean, place sterile lids on, and tighten the screw caps. Allow the jars to cool to room temperature and check to be sure that each jar has sealed.