Fireweed Jelly

kennedyfish's Note:

This is a bright pink / fuschia jelly made from fireweed blossoms. Fireweed is a bright pink wildflower native to Alaska. I've made this several years and it always turns out. I've used powdered pectin and liquid pectin with positive results. Taken from totallyalaska.com - I wanted to store this where I won't lose it!

• Total Time: 50 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 6 cups

• 8 cups fireweed blossoms (no stems or leaves)
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 4 ½ cups water
• 3 ½ ounces powdered fruit pectin
• 5 cups sugar
• 5 -6 one-pint jelly jars

Directions:

1. Pick, wash and measure 8 cups of fireweed blossoms (flower part only). Put into large saucepan.
2. Add 1/4 cup lemon juice and 4 1/2 cups water.
3. Boil 10-12 minutes and strain into a bowl. KEEP THE JUICE, and throw the cooked blossoms away.
4. Strain the juice through cheesecloth two more times for clarity of jelly.
5. Take strained juice and heat to lukewarm. Add 2 packages Sure Jell or other pectin and bring to boil.
6. Add 5 cups sugar and bring to FULL boil. Boil hard for 5 minutes.
7. Pour into hot, clean jars and seal.
8. Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.