I have so many violets on my dry land that they really seem to crowd out the dandelions.(I was n’t going for golf class - timbre sod anyway.)I’ve never been troubled byViola odorata . In fact , the pretty purple volunteer are quite utilitarian .
There are lots of violet - centered kids ’ undertaking , for instance . you could makeviolet syrup . And you’re able to even whip upviolet leaf lip balm .
For my part ? I gather the fragrant flower heads to fudge into a delightful pinkish jelly . Pretty , hand - labeled jars of the stuff make strange , cheap gift . ( Because I like to divide my batches into several mini container , I commonly employ four - oz. canning jarful . )
Provided you have violet — and supererogatory time on your hands — you might want to give reddish blue jelly a try . The following recipe make 64 ounces in all .
Check out these Kyd ’ crafts and address you may make using violets from the yard .
Flower Power
To make your own , you ’ll need load of violet flower petal . Harvest only from country you make out to be chemical substance - costless . ( Avoid Fido ’s favorite plot , too . ) Ideally , you ’ll desire enough violet to be able-bodied to fare away with at least two tightly pack cups of petals — and many more , if you’re able to put in the effort .
Bring the heads indoors and separate any stray stems as well as the tiny green sepals surrounding the petal . you could either pinch off this leafy end of the flush mind or deplumate out individual petals one by one .
Although time - consuming , this process is , at least , perfectly suitable for multi - tasking . Why not pick off flower petal while listening to your favorite podcast or gossip on the headphone ?
Susan Brackney
After you ’ve removed their stem and leave , pack as many violet petals into a one - dry quart jar as you could . At minimum , you ’ll need two tightly packed cup ’ Charles Frederick Worth . Even more is better .
To make a violet petal extract , seethe four cups of water and slow teem it over the peak flower petal . They will shrink down considerably when submerged , so you should be able-bodied to fill the jar all the way of life to the top with your hot water .
Tightly seal the jar and tolerate it to cool off to room temperature . For a unassailable infusion , you’re able to refrigerate it overnight . Susan Brackney
Susan Brackney
Other Ingredients
Besides four cup of reddish blue extract , you ’ll also need two tablespoons of lemon juice , one box of powdered pectin , and five cup of sugar . As I mentioned in mypepper - peach jam recipe , I favour to use bleak cane sugar .
vegan and vegetarians as well as those wishing to keep cosher or halal might also want to go with raw cane moolah . ( Traditional white sugar is refined withbone charwoman . Raw cane sugar is n’t . )
small - sugar pectin products are also available . That mean you might be able to get by with using less loot or even substituting alternate sweetener like stevia or agave .
Susan Brackney
stress this pepper - peach jam recipe for a fresh and spicy treat !
Getting Started
Want your reddish blue jelly to keep for a yr or more ? Then haul out the canning supply and plan on warmth - packing it .
Beforeyou cook the jelly , sterilize your canning jars , send away lids , and rings . ( If you do n’t experience like heat - packing your jelly , that ’s OK . It will last as - is in the refrigerator for a few weeks . )
To take up , pour the violet petal - occupy liquid state through a fine strainer or cheeseflower cloth . Capture and save only the liquid . This is your violet petal extract . ( you’re able to now discard the blossom flower petal . )
Susan Brackney
In a disjoined sports stadium , measure out five cup of sugar . Set aside . Susan Brackney
In a sonorous saucepan , combine your extract with the lemon juice . The deep indigo colour should turn bright pink now . arouse well over intermediate heat . bit by bit add the pectin powder .
Once you ’ve mixed in the pectin , increase the heat . Add all of the loot into the pot and mix thoroughly . Keep desegregate as you bring the content to a rolling boil . The jelly - to - be should rest at a rolling boiling point for one full min .
( nonstarter to churn or failure tokeepboiling for the full second can cause unsuccessful person to set . )
After the instant ’s up , your muddle is quick to transfer to your prepared canning jars or other containers . If you ’re pack jam for long - term storage , allow for about one - quartern - of - an - in blank at the top of each jolt . Be certain lid threads are clean-living and hole - free so that your canning lid will spring a tight sealskin . Susan Brackney
As it cool down , your jelly will start out to set up . This process can take four hours or longer , so be patient .
While you expect , consider designing your own label as a finishing touching — particularly if you ’ll be turn over your violet jelly as a gift . One complimentary , online design tool I like for this isCanva.com .
