Red Currant Jelly
The large cherry currants were the ones mother bought, and she told Adelaide that they made the most delicious jelly. Adelaide emptied the currants into the colander, which she dipped up and down in a pan of clear cold water until the currants were thoroughly cleansed, then she drained them.
Picking them over but not removing the stems, Adelaide poured a few at a time into the saucepan (which contained two tablespoons of cold water), and mashed them with the wooden potato masher; this she continued to do until all the currants were used.
Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the currants cook slowly until they looked white, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon to prevent burning.
The little jelly bag attached to the wire frame fitted nicely over another large saucepan, and into this bag Adelaide poured the currants, letting them stand until all the juice had dripped.
Now she measured the juice and returned it to the original saucepan, which had been washed clean. Again she placed the saucepan over the fire and brought the juice to the boiling point; then she let it continue to boil rapidly for twenty minutes (mother said it was not necessary to stir this).
When Adelaide measured the juice she also measured to each cupful a cup of sugar. This she placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the range, or in the oven with the door open, to let it heat through gradually but not to brown. As soon as the juice had boiled sufficiently she added the heated sugar gradually and stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved; when it again came to the boiling point it jellied in about three minutes.
Adelaide worked very quickly now; she removed the saucepan from the fire, skimmed the jelly, poured it into a pitcher, and from there into the little sterilized glasses. These she placed in the sun and let them stand until the next day; they were then wiped around the tops and outsides carefully with a clean damp cloth, the jelly was covered with melted paraffin, the glass being shaken gently from side to side to exclude all air. Next came the labels, and then the jelly was stored away in the preserve closet. It was a beautiful color, and it made Adelaide's mouth water just to look at it.
Red Currant and White Currant Jelly
The red and white currants Adelaide found made the jelly a beautiful color and more delicate in flavor. These she washed carefully in the colander by dipping it up and down in a pan of clear cold water, then she picked them over without removing the stems. Into the saucepan she measured two tablespoons of water, added the currants a few at a time, and mashed them with the wooden potato masher until all were used. Next the saucepan was placed over the fire and the currants boiled until the red currants looked white. Adelaide did not forget to stir with the wooden spoon to prevent the currants from burning.
The jelly bag was ready and into this Adelaide poured the currants. She let the juice drip overnight, and the next morning measured it into the saucepan. To each cup of juice she measured a cup of sugar, which she placed in an earthenware dish on the back of the range to heat through, but not to brown. The juice Adelaide boiled for twenty minutes rapidly, then she added the sugar very gradually and stirred until it was dissolved. When it came to the boiling point it "jellied" very quickly, and Adelaide skimmed it, poured it into a pitcher, then into the small glasses at once, which were already sterilized.
Standing them in a sunny window she let them remain until the next day. With a clean damp cloth she wiped the top and outside of each glass carefully, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook each glass gently from side to side to exclude the air, pasted on the labels and, as usual, stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.
Red Currant and Raspberry Jelly
Of all the jellies this was mother's favorite.
Adelaide picked over the raspberries (looking in each centre to be sure there were no little worms), poured them into the colander, dipped them up and down in a pan of clear cold water to cleanse thoroughly, and after draining emptied them into the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water. The currants were washed in the same manner as the raspberries, and Adelaide picked them over but did not remove the stems. These were added to the raspberries, and she mashed them all with the wooden potato masher.
Setting the saucepan over the fire, she stirred well with the wooden spoon, and, when the fruit boiled, Adelaide let it cook until the currants looked white. The jelly bag was ready, and Adelaide poured in the fruit and the juice dripped over night.
When she measured the juice into the saucepan she also measured an equal amount of sugar into an earthenware dish. This Adelaide stood on the back of the range to heat through but not brown.
While the juice came to the boiling point Adelaide attended to the sterilizing of the little glasses.
As soon as the juice had boiled rapidly for twenty minutes Adelaide added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly until the sugar was dissolved. It very quickly boiled again and in a few minutes reached the "jelly point." Adelaide skimmed it carefully and poured it into a pitcher. It was then easy to pour the jelly into the small glasses and stand it in the sun to set.
The next morning Adelaide wiped each glass carefully with a damp cloth around the top and outside, then she poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air. Next the labels were pasted on, and then the jelly was stored away in the preserve closet.
Blackberry Jelly
Adelaide picked the blackberries very carefully into the colander. This she dipped up and down in a pan of clear cold water several times to thoroughly cleanse the berries. When they were well drained she poured them into the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water, and mashed the berries with the wooden potato masher. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the blackberries heat through slowly until they were soft, then she poured them into the jelly bag and the juice dripped all night. The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she allowed three-fourths of a cup of sugar. The juice she put over the fire to boil rapidly for twenty minutes, and stood the sugar in an earthenware dish at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown. After the juice had boiled sufficiently Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred with a wooden spoon until it was all dissolved, then she let it boil until it reached the jelly point. Skimming it carefully, she then poured the jelly into the pitcher, and from there into the small sterilized glasses, which she stood in a sunny window to set.
When cold, Adelaide wiped each glass carefully around the top and outside, and poured melted paraffin over the top of the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air; then she pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.
Spiced Blackberry Jelly
The blackberries Adelaide picked over carefully and put in the colander to wash thoroughly by dipping them up and down several times in a pan of cold water. After they were well drained she poured them into a saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water, and mashed them with the wooden potato masher. Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the blackberries simmer until they were soft, then poured them into the jelly bag to drip. To each cup of juice she measured a cup of sugar which she stood on the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown, also one-fourth of an ounce of ground cinnamon, one-eighth of an ounce of ground mace, and one-fourth of a teaspoonful of ground cloves, which she tied up in a piece of thin muslin. The juice and spices were then boiled together rapidly for twenty minutes, after which time Adelaide took out the bag of spices and added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until the sugar was dissolved.
When the "jelly point" was reached she skimmed it at once and poured the jelly into a pitcher. It was then easy for her to fill the sterilized glasses and let the jelly stand until cold. Next, Adelaide wiped each glass with a damp cloth around the top and outside, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored away the jelly in the preserve closet.
Mother said that this was better than any medicine.
Black Currant Jelly
Black currant jelly, mother told Adelaide, was what her mother gave her when she was a little girl if ever she complained of a sore throat. After Adelaide had tasted it she said, "Mother, I should think you would have felt almost glad to have a sore throat, it is so good."
The black currants Adelaide picked over and washed thoroughly in the usual way by pouring them into the colander, then dipping it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water. After draining them well, she emptied them into the saucepan, added two tablespoons of cold water, mashed well with the wooden potato masher, and placed the mixture over the fire to simmer until soft. Into the jelly bag they went next, and Adelaide let the juice drip all night.
Next morning she measured the juice and an equal amount of sugar, which she placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the range, to heat through but not brown. The juice she brought to the boiling point and it continued to boil rapidly for twenty minutes.
Adding the sugar gradually, she stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved and cooked to the "jelly point." After skimming the jelly Adelaide poured it into a pitcher and from there into the sterilized small glasses, and then stood the tumblers in a sunny window. When the jelly was cold she wiped the top and outside of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, and shook gently from side to side to exclude all air. Pasting on the labels, Adelaide then stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.
Green Gooseberry Jelly
The gooseberries were easily picked over and washed. Adelaide put them in the colander, dipped it up and down in a pan of clear cold water, and stood it aside to drain. She measured two tablespoons of cold water into the saucepan, added the gooseberries and mashed them with the wooden potato masher.
Placing the saucepan over the fire she let the gooseberries simmer until they were soft, not forgetting to stir with the wooden spoon to keep them from burning. Pouring the fruit into the jelly bag came next, and Adelaide let it drip over night.
To each cup of juice Adelaide added three-fourths of a cup of sugar. The sugar was placed in an earthenware dish at the back of the range to heat but not brown. When the juice had boiled rapidly for twenty minutes Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred until it was all dissolved. It was then cooked to the "jelly point."
Adelaide skimmed the jelly, poured it into the pitcher, and from there into the sterilized small glasses, then stood them in a sunny window. When the jelly was cold Adelaide wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook gently from side to side to exclude all air, then pasted on the labels and stored the jars away in the preserve closet.
Wild Cherry Jelly
After picking the cherries carefully into the colander, Adelaide dipped it up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, then stood it aside to drain. Into the saucepan she measured two tablespoons of cold water, added the cherries and mashed them with the wooden potato masher.
Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the cherries simmer until they were soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, after which she poured the fruit into the jelly bag and let the juice drip over night.
The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured three-fourths of a cup of sugar. The sugar she placed in an earthenware dish and stood on the back of the range to heat through but not burn.
The juice she let boil rapidly twenty minutes, added the heated sugar gradually, and stirred with the wooden spoon until all was dissolved. After the juice and sugar had boiled to the "jelly point" Adelaide skimmed it carefully, poured quickly into a pitcher and then into the sterilized small glasses.
Mother liked to have all of her jelly stand in the sun if possible, so Adelaide stood the glasses in a sunny window.
When the jelly was cold she wiped the tops and outsides of each glass carefully with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly (shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air), pasted on the labels and stored the jelly away in the preserve closet.
Wild Grape Jelly
The wild grapes Adelaide poured into the colander, dipped it up and down several times in cold water and stood it to drain. Next, she picked them over carefully, pinched each grape to break the skin, and dropped them into the saucepan containing two tablespoons of cold water.
Placing the saucepan over the fire, she let the grapes simmer until soft, stirring occasionally to prevent burning, then poured them into the jelly bag to drip over night.
In the morning she measured the juice and an equal amount of sugar. The saucepan containing the juice she placed over the fire that the juice might boil rapidly for twenty minutes, and the sugar was put in an earthenware dish and stood at the back of the range to heat through, but not brown.
The small glasses were all sterilized, and as soon as the juice had boiled the necessary time, Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved.
Adelaide tended the juice and sugar carefully until it reached the "jelly point," then, skimming quickly, she poured the jelly into a pitcher, and from there into the small glasses. Next she stood them in a sunny window, and when the jelly was cold the glasses were wiped around the tops and on the outsides with a damp cloth. Melting the paraffin she poured it over the jelly and shook it gently from side to side to exclude all air. The labels were pasted on finally, and the jelly was stored away in the preserve closet.
Wild Plum Jelly
The wild plums that Adelaide used were brought to her by a friend who lived in the country. They were about the size of large cherries. The flavor of the jelly was most delicious and a general favorite with everybody.
Adelaide washed the plums after emptying them into the colander, by dipping the colander up and down several times in a pan of clear cold water, after which she drained them. Into the saucepan she had measured two tablespoons of cold water, and as she picked over the plums she slit each one with a silver knife and dropped it into the waiting saucepan.
These she let simmer until soft and mushy, not forgetting to stir occasionally to keep them from burning, then poured the fruit into the jelly bag to drip over night. In the morning Adelaide measured the juice, and to each cup she measured three-quarters of a cup of sugar. The juice she let boil rapidly for twenty minutes, while the sugar was stood at the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown.
When the juice had boiled sufficiently, Adelaide added the sugar gradually and stirred with the wooden spoon until it was all dissolved. As soon as the "jelly point" was reached, Adelaide skimmed it quickly, poured it into a pitcher, from there into the sterilized small glasses, and stood them in a sunny window. After the jelly was cold she wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored the tumblers away in the preserve closet.
Damson Plum Jelly
Adelaide wiped and picked over the Damson Plums, and slit each one with a silver knife before placing them in the saucepan with two tablespoons of cold water. These she let boil until very soft, stirring occasionally with the wooden spoon to prevent burning. When the fruit had cooked sufficiently, she poured it into the jelly bag and let it drip over night. The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured three-fourths the amount of sugar. It (the juice) was boiled rapidly for twenty minutes, while the sugar stood on the back of the range in an earthenware dish to heat through, but not brown.
After twenty minutes of boiling for the juice, the sugar was added gradually and stirred until it was all dissolved. When the "jelly point" was reached Adelaide skimmed the jelly quickly, poured it into a pitcher, and from there into the sterilized glasses, and then stood them in a sunny window.
As soon as the jelly was cold, Adelaide wiped the tops and outsides of each glass with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shaking it gently from side to side to exclude all air, pasted on the labels and stored the jelly glasses away in the preserve closet.
Apple Jelly
The apples that made the best jelly, mother told Adelaide, were the "porter apples," the "gravenstein apples," the "maiden's blush," and the "fall pippins."
Adelaide wiped each apple thoroughly with a damp cloth and removed the stems and blossom ends. With a silver knife she cut them in quarters. Placing them in the saucepan, she added cold water until it came nearly to the top of the apples.
Covering the saucepan, she stood it over the fire and let the apples cook slowly until they were very soft. She found it necessary to stir the fruit with a wooden spoon occasionally to prevent the juice from burning. When it was done Adelaide poured it into the jelly bag and let the juice drip over night.
The next morning she measured the juice, and to each cup she measured a cup of sugar, which she placed in an earthenware dish on the back of the range to heat through but not burn.
As soon as the juice had boiled rapidly for twenty minutes, Adelaide added the sugar a little at a time, stirring constantly until it had all dissolved. Then she let it cook to the "jelly point," after which she skimmed it quickly, poured it into a pitcher and filled the sterilized small glasses at once. The glasses were then placed in a sunny window, and, when cold, Adelaide wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly, shook it gently from side to side to exclude air, pasted on the labels and stored the jelly away in the preserve closet in the space allotted for jellies.
Crab Apple Jelly
The crab apples make a very handsome jelly, and as they are very small, mother did not think two dozen would be too many for Adelaide to prepare.
These, mother said, you only needed to wipe clean with a damp cloth and remove the stem and blossom end. It was not necessary to cut them, just put them into the saucepan and nearly cover them with cold water.
Standing the saucepan over the fire, Adelaide put on the cover and let the apples cook slowly until very soft, stirring occasionally to keep from burning, then she poured them into the jelly bag and let the juice drip over night. In the morning she measured the juice, and for each cup of juice she measured a cup of sugar. The sugar was put in an earthenware dish and stood at the back of the range, to heat through, but not brown, while the juice was boiling rapidly for twenty minutes.
As soon as the juice was ready, Adelaide added the sugar gradually, stirring constantly with the wooden spoon until it had all dissolved. This she let come to the "jelly point," skimmed quickly, poured into a pitcher, and filled the sterilized small glasses at once.
Next she placed the jelly in a sunny window. When cold, she wiped each glass around the top and on the outside with a damp cloth, poured melted paraffin over the jelly (shaking gently from side to side to exclude all air), pasted on the labels and stored away in the preserve closet.