Lavender Jelly

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup dried lavender flowers
• 1 lemon, juice of (approximately 1/4 cup)
• 1 (1 1/2 ounce) box powdered pectin 4 cups sugar

Recipe

• 1 in a large saucepan over high heat bring water just to a boil. remove from heat, stir in dried lavender flowers, and let steep for 20 minutes. after 20 minutes, strain mixture into a deep kettle or pot, discarding the lavender flowers. stir in lemon juice and pectin; continue stirring until the pectin is dissolved.
• 2 over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil then add sugar. when the jelly solution returns to a hard rolling boil, let it boil for 2 to 4 minutes (see below), stirring occasionally.
• 3 boil times:.
• 4 2 minutes - soft gel.
• 5 4 minutes - medium gel.
• 6 testing for "jell" (thickness - i keep a metal tablespoon sitting in a glass of ice water, then take a half spoonful of the mix and let it cool to room temperature on the spoon.
• 7 if it thickens up to the consistency i like, then i know the jelly is ready. if not, i mix in a little more pectin (about 1 teaspoon to 1/2 of another package) and bring it to a boil again for 1 minute
• 8 after boiling, transfer the jelly into hot sterilized jars. fill them to within 1/4 inch of the top. process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. adjust time according to your altitude.