I got into canning last year when I found a recipe for High Bush Cranberry Jelly that my grandmother used to make when she was alive. High bush cranberries grow rampantly at my grandfather’s farm (other side of the family) and though it’s a long process it meant fresh cranberry jelly with Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners and a year of tasting something my family thought died with my grandma.
When we got engaged the favours were something I put a lot of thought into, and some kind of jelly seemed like a great way to really personalize the whole thing. No putting our initials on M&M’s for us! We were going to throw down some sweat equity…..and thank god we’re having a small wedding, that’s all I can say.
My DIY Wedding Favors….
Wild Manitoba Blueberry Jelly & Apple Butter!
Here’s how it all went over the past two weekends…
- Start with your fruit (these are wild, hand picked Manitoba Blueberries) & get ready to clean
- Washing the jars, pre-being baked so they’re sterilized
- My best “Martha Stewart With A Facial Piercing” pose
- Apples getting ready to be cooked for 20 mins – peels and cores included
- 7 mins left to cook – the apples are starting to break down
- The best way to get ready for squeezing! The Hand Mixer! Cookie sheet is to cook mixture in the fridge after the cooking
- Cooled mixture goes into cheesecloth for separating juice out from the seeds and peels
- Repeat 40 billion times without letting apple gunk squish out the top.
- Spiced, with sugar added and ready for a second cooking
- Pre-candied texture
- Ready to be processed!
- Stupid f-ing jell test that I can never make work. The trick is to use spoons cooled in ice water to grab some jelly and then return to the freezer for 3 – 7 mins. and then see if it’s still a liquid or if it’s a jell. Anyone who says they can do this by leaving it at room temperature is a liar.
- After being boiled to ensure they’re sealed the jars are removed from the water…with BBQ tongs.
- And you’re done! With Extra!
- Okay…..NOW you’re done!
Now I just have to decorate them!
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m only just realizing how cute so many of the bloggers that I read are.
Look at you! I can barely cook, let alone can. I am very impressed:) What a great idea for a wedding favor, too! Love it!
This whole post was totally “Martha Stewart with a facial piercing”! lol
I just started canning this year and I am in love with it already. I even bought a pressure canner so that I can do anything I want to! You are 100% right about the rewards. One afternoon of work yields a whole year of one less thing to buy at the grocery.
Thank you for the lengthy article to show how to make the jelly! Wow. I’ll definitely pay for homemade jelly from now on. ;-)
Oh my goodness I am beyond impressed. Seriously. I want to do this. I might try. It will be a disaster. Can you explain the blueberry part a bit better? I love it!!!
Damn, I hope when I get married, no one thinks I’m making jelly. I can barely make mac and cheese!
You are ridiculously talented, Miss Kyla!
Love love LOVE how you’ve personalized your gifts. We’re going a slightly different route (in lieu of a gift, we’re planting a tree), but with the same goal in mind (no M&M’s!!!!). And you’re adorable, by the way. Great MS picture!!
Oh wow. That’s amazing! I’d love to be as creative as you are (and as kitchen-savy). I adore apple butter. Maybe I might just try making this…
YUMYUMYUM!
My mom & grandmother used to make apple butter every year which was so deeeelish. Since it’s getting about that season again maybe i’ll give it a shot. I’ve never done any canning before – although it seems like a great idea. I’d like to give your blueberry jelly a shot as well as maybe find a strawberry jelly recipie. {tummy starts churning}. Looking forward to decoration photos!
That Martha pose? Great.
Wow that is actually really interesting. My grandma also cans but I never got into it. I might have to go ask her about that now.
Um, hi. Can I have a jar?! Looks so delicious. Loved the pictures, too btw. You are adorable!
You put me to shame, pretty lady. I am impressed. I did get exhausted just from reading this though, so I think I’ll leaving the jelly making to Smuckers for now.
I loooovvveee making stuff like this! Um, and you? are so beautiful!!