Fireweed Jelly

GakonaBaby's Note:

I make several batches of this each summer when the fireweed in Alaska is in bloom. My kids always help pick the blooms and are always eager to eat the finished product. Its important that only the blooms are harvested - not the stems. Also, I have tried this recipe several times with Certo and it will not set so be sure to use Sure-Jell or a powdered pectin. Prep time is estimated (depends on how long it takes you to pick fireweed, I guess!) Extra juice can be stored in fridge or freezer.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 20 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 4.0 8 ounce ...

• 2 ½ cups fireweed juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon butter
• 1 (1 ¾ ounce) package dry pectin
• 3 cups sugar

Directions:

1. For fireweed juice: Harvest about 8 packed cups of fireweed flowers. Rinse thoroughly and put in 2 quart pot. Add just enough water to make water level just below top of packed flowers. (Juice should be a deep purple color when finished. If too much water is used in boiling process, juice will be a brownish color. More water can always be added after flowers are boiled to increase amount of juice.) Boil flowers in water until color is boiled out and petals are a grayish color. Ladle juice into jar through cheesecloth to strain.
2. Warm fireweed juice, lemon juice and butter on stovetop.
3. Add Sure-Jell, bring to boil and boil hard for one minute.
4. Add sugar and bring to full boil for one minute. Skim top of jelly.
5. Pour into pitcher(makes it easier to fill jars)and skim again.
6. Fill sterilized jars leaving 1/8 inch space at top. Process in hot water bath for 10 minutes.

Reviews

[Arctic Mama]

Thanks for the recipe. I have lived in AK for 6 years and have never done anything with the abundant fireweed. I love making jelly each summer, so decided to give this a try. My jelly did not set so I had to give it another try the following day with a second box of pectin and it turned out great. It tastes a little like cranberry jelly to me. We are really enjoying it. Thanks for the recipe.

[Nisqually]

I tried this and everybody i gave it to was in awe!! "It's a weed" they say, but after tasting it, they wanted the recipe. I was a little too late this summer and we had VERY hot weather, so I missed out. Darn it anyway. We just love it. I just entered in our local fair today, so I hope i get a blue ribbon. Shelley Olympia, Washington

[917606]

The first jelly I've ever made! Easy to follow recipe and it came out beautiful and tasty! Was planning to send 3 of the jars to friends and family, but now that he's tasted it, hubby says "We're not sending this anywhere!"