Elderberry Jam

Black elderberry (Sumbucus nigra) has been used medicinally for hundreds of years. Many studies demonstrate that elderberry may have a measurable effect in treating the flu, alleviating allergies, and boosting overall respiratory health. Elderberry is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, dissolved in wine,for rheumatism and traumatic injury. The berries are a favorite food resource for many birds.

• 1 kg (2.2 lb)elderberries (without stems)
• 600 g (1.32 lb) sugar
• 1 green apple, not ripe
• Juice of 2 lemons

Elderberry tree.

Elderberry fruit.

Elderberry jam.

1. Using fork separate berries from stalks. Peel and core apple, dice into small cubes.

Removing berries is easy.

Elderberries.

2. Place elderberries in pot, and bring slowly to a boil, stirring constantly. Once the berries release juice, add finely diced apple. Bring to a boil.

3. Decrease the heat, add sugar and lemon juice and cook over low heat for 45 minutes stirring often until the jam thickens.

Cooking elderberry jam.

Jam refrigerator test.

Perform refrigerator test.

4. Fill jam into jars and process in water bath canner for 10 minutes.

5. Remove jars and let stand for 12 hours.

Available from Amazon

"Creative Sausage Making" is written for individuals who want to produce top-quality sausages and create their own professionally composed recipes. They won't need to follow recipes; they will be able to develop them at will. Reading this book will save readers hours, if not years, of time-consuming research and experimentation, and will improve their sausage-making skills. What makes this book different is that it not only covers the manufacturing of various types of sausages but also includes information on the latest innovations adopted by the food industry, such as natural gums, known as hydrocolloids, protein emulsions, and colorants, which are unfamiliar to most hobbyists.