Mr. Susie Homemaker

We unfortunately, and much to my chagrin, did not plant a garden this year. But, don't you worry, plans are already in the works for next year, with plenty of tomato plants for bottling tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, and soup! The timing for a garden just didn't work out this year with moving in and having a baby. However, lucky for us, we were blessed to harvest a few fruits, thanks to the previous owners. Cherries, strawberries, raspberries and grapes to be exact (and one mysterious zucchini plant). The cherries, strawberries and raspberries were few in number, but the grapes were plentiful. So plentiful in fact that our poor vine kept falling over, and Brian threatened to, "just get rid of it," a time or two. But, he didn't. And it's a good thing he didn't, because he (with very little help from me) did something quite delicious with those lovely grapes.

First came the harvesting when they had reached their "peak."

This job was taken seriously. Very seriously. We mean business people!

The grapes smelled delicious, and tasted just as good. I could have eaten the whole bowl if it wasn't for those annoying seeds.

Next came a very thorough washing,

followed by chopping, squeezing, boiling, and straining.

Have you ever actually had grape juice that wasn't from a box, bottle, or reconstituted from frozen concentrate? I'm talkin' fresh people! So, so, so good! Again, I could have gulped a gallon of the stuff if it wasn't destined for another path. And if it didn't have such an off-putting color.

And this is where I came in (besides the afore mentioned consumption) to make a brief appearance in the process. I gathered the jars, lids, sugar, pectin, & canner, and then coached Brian from the sidelines.

And after some mixing and more boiling, this was the end result:

Wondering how we got purple grape jelly from that brownish-green juice? Through the magic and wonder of food coloring! (Thanks for the suggestion Mindy!) It made for much prettier jelly. And yes, we have tried it. And nobody got sick. Success! It is, quite frankly, the best grape jelly I have ever had.

We will be transplanting our now "beloved" grape vine to a more permanent and secure location, and crossing our fingers that it survives so that we can repeat the process next year.

Good job Susie!...I mean Brian!

And one more photo, just because he is so. gosh. darn. cute.