Dec 7, 2011

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Pepper Jelly: Take 2

Or maybe, take 3?

This past weekend a good friend came over and we spent 4 hours together making pepper jelly. We made 3 different types:  sweet red pepper, green pepper and spicy green pepper. That’s 36 1 cup jars of jelly.

Not a single jar set into jelly.

Not one.

On Sunday I remade the recipe by adding 3 tbsp of sugar, 1 tsp of vinegar and 1 tsp of pectin to each cup of jelly. This took 2 hours.

The following morning? It still wasn’t set.

Let me tell you – I was not a happy camper. Not. At. All.

I debating attempting to remake a third time, but after looking up recipes it appears our pepper to pectin ratio was off. WAY OFF.

The recipe we used called for 8 large bell peppers. The recipe I used last year calls for 1 1/2 cup of bell peppers. So, like 2-3 peppers.

No freaking wonder it didn’t set!

This weekend I decided to remake the batches and make the following: sweet red, spicy green and spicy yellow (because The Cowboy wanted yellow pepper jelly). So 36 jars all to myself.

Here’s the tried and true recipe if anyone wants to make it themselves (recipe from Company’s Coming):

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped red peppers (I probably ended up using closer to 2 cups of peppers for the recipe)
  • 1/4 jalapeño pepper (with or without seeds depending on your taste)
  • 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
  • 6 1/2 cups sugar
  • 6 ounces pectin (or, for the Canadians, about 180 mL)
  1. Put the chopped peppers and vinegar in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth
  2. Pour into a large pot and add the sugar. Cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and bring to a boil, stirring. Boil for 3 minutes (note: I boil for 10 minutes here)
  3. Stir in the pectin and bring to a full rolling boil on high heat. Boil for 1 minute (I increased the boiling time to 2 minutes)
  4. Remove from the heat, and skim off the foam if there is any.
  5. Pour into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch of head space
  6. Wipe the rims with a clean cloth, and top with hot snap lids and rings (according to manufacturer instructions)
  7. Process in a boiling hot water bath for about 10 minutes to seal. (Note: if you live 1000 ft above sea level (like I do) you’ll need to at 5 minutes processing time).
If you don’t have a boiling water canner, just put the cans in a water bath making sure to cover 1 inch above the lids and boil.
The above recipe makes exactly 9 250mL jars, so I ended up making 4 batches of 9 jars instead of 3 batches of 12 jars. They are: sweet red, sweet red and orange, slightly spicy green (2 jalapeños with seeds) and super spicy orange (4 jalapeños with seeds).
Wondering where the pictures are? Here, of course!

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Dec 7, 2011

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Halfway

Are you getting annoyed by my 2 or 3 times of daily posting with daily wears and #resound11 posts? Please, let me know and I’ll change up how I’m doing things.

There’s something so awesome about waking up on a Wednesday realizing there’s only 2 more work days after Wednesday until the weekend. (Even better? Waking up on Thursday and realizing the next day is Friday!)

For some reason, Wednesday is the most difficult day to dress for. By Wednesday I’m bored of my work outfits (ugh, dress pants, again?!) and just want it to be Friday already. For this reason, I usually pick something fun to wear on a Wednesday. Today it was a tank top with sequins and lace. SO FUN! :)

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Dec 7, 2011

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#resound11 – Achievement Unlocked

12/07: Achievement Unlocked (here)

What goal did you set for yourself and achieve this year? Did you achieve something you didn’t think you could? Did you win an award? Did you set a record? Did you finally get your VCR from 1985 to stop blinking 12:00? C’mon, share it! Today is your chance to brag and get a resounding round of interweb applause.

My achievement isn’t anything huge like winning an award or running a marathon (although I did complete 3 half marathons in 2011).

I went into 2011 in a new job that wasn’t fulfilling. I just wasn’t thrilled with it, and I make the super difficult decision to quit my job and go back to the job I left. Very humbling, but I stayed true to myself.

When everyone is told that we have to have this, be that, wear this, look like that, it can be very, very difficult to stay true to ones self.

I still struggle with staying true to myself on a daily basis, but going back to my old job has made my life much more fulfilling.

And that, is my achievement.

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