Jalapeño Mint Jelly

Preparation 1. Bring 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) mint and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes to steep. Strain through a lined sieve pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; discard mint. 2. Combine mint liquid, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, and peppers in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat and boil hard for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in pectin and remaining mint. 3. Ladle into sterilized jars and process as directed for Shorter Time Processing Procedure . Variation: Lemon Balm Jelly Use lemon balm leaves in place of the mint and omit the jalapeño peppers. Extra! Tips from Epicurious:· Liquid fruit pectin, an ingredient that helps form a gel, is available in the produce or jams and jellies aisle of many supermarkets. Certo is a popular brand. Be sure to use the liquid version: While pectin is also available in crystals, the two forms are not interchangeable. · "I like to mix this jelly with cream cheese and serve it on crackers," says Topp. "The chile peppers and mint make for a flavorful hors d'oeuvre." From The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving by Eleanor Topp and Margaret Howard © 2001. Reprinted with permission from Firefly Books Ltd. Buy the full book at Amazon.

Preparation 1. Bring 1 1/2 cups (375 mL) mint and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand for 30 minutes to steep. Strain through a lined sieve pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; discard mint. 2. Combine mint liquid, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, and peppers in a large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a full boil over high heat and boil hard for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in pectin and remaining mint. 3. Ladle into sterilized jars and process as directed for Shorter Time Processing Procedure . Variation: Lemon Balm Jelly Use lemon balm leaves in place of the mint and omit the jalapeño peppers. Extra! Tips from Epicurious:· Liquid fruit pectin, an ingredient that helps form a gel, is available in the produce or jams and jellies aisle of many supermarkets. Certo is a popular brand. Be sure to use the liquid version: While pectin is also available in crystals, the two forms are not interchangeable. · "I like to mix this jelly with cream cheese and serve it on crackers," says Topp. "The chile peppers and mint make for a flavorful hors d'oeuvre." From The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving by Eleanor Topp and Margaret Howard © 2001. Reprinted with permission from Firefly Books Ltd. Buy the full book at Amazon.