The fireweed are almost completely bloomed out, which in Alaska means that summer is nearly over, fall is basically here, and winter is on its way. Riggs and I went on a long walk yesterday to harvest the 8 cups of fireweed blossoms we needed to make our most favorite jelly ever.
Fireweed-Maple Jelly (adapted from here)
8 cups fireweed blossoms (no stems)
1/4 cup lemon juice
4.5 cups water
6 T low/no sugar pectin
1.5 cups granulated sugar
1/5 cup real maple syrup
//pick wash and measure 8 cups of fireweed blossoms.
//add water, lemon juice and blossoms to large saucepan and heat to boiling.
//boil for 10 minutes and then strain, using unbleached cheesecloth.
//pour lukewarm strained juice back into saucepan and whisk in the 6 tablespoons of low/no sugar pectin. Bring to a boil and whisk in sugar and syrup. Bring to roiling boil and boil for 1 minute.
//pour into hot, clean jars and seal (makes about 7 half pints).
//process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
//done!
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| you need to rinse them really well there will be lots of bugs and spiders |
the fireweed blossoms smell so, so good while they're boiling.
and then there's that beautiful, hot-pink juice...
I just love this jelly!
This morning we enjoyed delicious toast smothered with that gorgeous, scrumptious fireweed-maple jelly. So good!
