Lavender Jelly

Every so often at the Market, the vendors are shuffled from their usual spaces. Last week a lavender farm showed up in the place where the Young Entrepreneurs tables usually are. While she had some very nice soap with lavender bits in it, she also had big bunches of fresh cut flowers.

I looked all over the internet for what to do with the flowers. Since they were culinary instead of ornamental, I though I should cook something with them. I found a recipe for jelly that used dry flowers, but since I didn't want to wait for them to dry, I used a bit more of the fresh flowers.

I think it turned out very nice! I doubled this recipe to get 24 of the cute 4 ounce jars.


Lavender Jelly

3 1/2 cups water
2 cups fresh lavender flowers
juice of 1 lemon (1/4 cup)
1 (1 3/4-ounces) box powdered pectin or 1 pouch (3-ounces) liquid pectin
4 cups sugar

Prepare a waterbath canner, and 5 half pint jars and lids, as directed in the pectin instructions.
In a large saucepan over high heat bring water just to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in lavender flowers, and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain mixture through a wire mesh strainer into a deep pot. Discard the flowers. Stir in lemon juice and pectin, and continue stirring until the pectin is dissolved.
On high heat, bring the mixture to a boil, and add sugar. When the mixture returns to a hard rolling boil, continue boiling for 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and transfer the jelly into hot sterilized jars. Filling them to within 1/4 inch of the top, wiping any spills off the top. Put on lids and rings. Process in the waterbath canner for 10-15 minutes.
Makes five 1/2 pints.