Foodie Blogroll

Friday, September 30, 2011

Lavender Jelly and a visit from the Fairy Hobmother


Happy Friday friends and fellow bloggers! Before I get on with the tale of my lavender jelly I would love to tell you about my visit from the Fairy Hobmother. I don't know if you are familiar with this mystical visitor who wonders through blogs in the blogosphere...granting wishes...spreading joy.

A few days back after leaving a comment and a wish on Sam's blog My Carolina Kitchen where she blogged about her surprise visit. The Fairy Hobmother who represents an online appliance store granted me a wish with a gift certificate to Amazon.com. Appliances Online who sell dishwashers and other white goods is someplace you should visit.

Thank you Fairy Hobmother (called so because in the UK where Appliences Online is from a cooktop is called a hob)

And guess what? You can be lucky too, and your wish come true. All you have to do is leave a comment and your wish of what you would like the Fairy Hobmother to bring you...and you could get a visit too.



You might remember my lavender syrup that I made instead of jelly. I actually really liked the syrup, so good on those corn pancakes. Well I let the other jars that sealed set and they finally did it! They are now lavender jelly! and the jelly is so good too! Smiles all around!



The recipes out there are pretty basic and I found this one on What's Cooking America I liked it because it was a smaller amount...just in case it didn't turn out :)

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup dried lavender flowers (culinary)
Juice of 1 lemon (approximately 1/4 cup)
1 (1 3/4-ounces) box powdered Pectin or 1 pouch (3-ounces) liquid pectin
4 cups granulated sugar

Preparation:

In a large saucepan over high heat bring water just to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in dried lavender flowers, and let steep for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, strain mixture into a deep kettle or pot, discarding the lavender flowers. Stir in lemon juice and pectin; continue stirring until the pectin is dissolved.

Over high heat, bring the mixture to a boil; add sugar. When the jelly solution returns to a hard rolling boil, let it boil for 2 to 4 minutes (see below), stirring occasionally.

Boil Times:
2 minutes - soft gel
4 minutes - medium gel

Testing for "jell" (thickness - keep a metal tablespoon sitting in a glass of ice water, then take a half spoonful of the mix and let it cool to room temperature on the spoon. If it thickens up to the consistency you like, then you know the jelly is ready. If not, mix in a little more pectin (about 1 teaspoon to 1/2 of another package) and bring it to a boil again for 1 minute
After boiling, transfer the jelly into hot sterilized jars. Fill them to within 1/4 inch of the top, wipe any spilled jam off the top, seat the lid and tighten the ring around them.

Makes five 1/2 pints.
I also followed the directions that came with the liquid pectin. It also told me in more detail how to fill and seal the jars and re-make the jelly if it doesn't set after two weeks. The recipe was very similar to this one here. I think next time I would cook it a little longer. I wonder if it make a difference that I am at sea level?

You should check out What's Cooking America to see some other great lavender recipes they have.


So now I have making jelly under my belt, maybe I should try some jam! I have some other jam jars that I saved to reuse!

I like it on toast!



My orchid that I though bit the dust...amazed me by popping out some blooms. It was just hanging around (literally) out in my lanai...looking pretty scrawny and boom! It is up against the white wall so I had to create a little contrast.


I know you all are wondering what I will be using my gift card on . Well...just the other day I saw this awesome seafood paella recipe on ADORA'S Box. I had never made paella before and after seeing this I really wanted to try it...but I don't have a paella pan...I even commented that I needed to find a pan...and bingo! Now I can go to Amazon.com and buy one...thanks to Fairy Hobmother.

The Fairy Hobmother is looking to grant wishes so if you leave a wish in the comments it could be granted like mine and other people's wishes were!!! Leave a Comment and good luck!!

30 comments:

  1. Great looking jelly! Fairy I would like a new frothy milk thingy for my coffee drinks please!
    Take care...

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  2. What a beautiful jelly - love the hint of lavender!

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  3. Congratulations!
    The jelly sounds totally delicious with lavender!

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  4. I love the Fair Hobmother - there's no end to the wordplay in this world. I have some lavender blossoms.....this looks a great thing to make, on a warm and sunny day! I like!

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  5. Don't think the good Fairy will visit someone so far away huh? lol! Great looking jelly you've got there Lyndsey and the orchid is awesome!

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  6. I haven't tried lavender jelly but it sure looks good!

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  7. Boy Lynds, you're getting luck & luckier! Ooooh...I'm so jealous here. haha.... Btw, your jelly looks fantastic. I love the colour & as well as the texture very much. I'm glad you didn't reboiled it. hehe... Happy Weekend!
    Blessings, Kristy

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  8. Your jelly sounds very French with the lavender. I'm loving it. So glad the Fairy Hobmother paid you a visit Lyndsey. Congratulations.
    Sam

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  9. Lavender jelly ... sounds delightful! I've had lavender syrup similar to the one you made in your earlier post and loved that. I'm guessing I'm going to love this just the same! Love the texture of the jelly! Time to go to the store!
    Btw, congrats on getting your wish!

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  10. Kristy, I know...right? I can't believe it lately...I just credit it to hard work! :) As for the jelly I did have to reboil it and add a little more sugar, and pectin to it. I should of mentioned that in my post. In the pectin direction showed me how. The syrup was from when it didn't set up, but I will make the syrup again too.

    Simply Life - thanks

    Sam - I am so glad you stopped by. I have some lavender left so more lavender recipes to come!

    Ping - Yes it is just a s good as the syrup of course it has the same ingredients. I imagine you could use this in a glaze for roast chicken and such! Oo a lavender BBQ sauce would be great!

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  11. Lyndsey-Your lavender jelly looks so perfect and delicate...love the way it turned out!

    Congratulations on the gift from the Fairy Hobmother!

    Your orchids are beautiful...don't give up on them. sometimes it takes a while before they come back into bloom, and now they look spectacular:DDD

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  12. Your lavender jelly looks great! I can imagine the aroma and sweetness of this jelly! And congratulations on your visit from Fairy Hobmother. I sure wish Fairy Hobmother would visit a faraway land! :)

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  13. That jelly must taste divine!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  14. YOur dishes are absolutely mouthwatery and this one sounds yummm..:)
    thanks for sharing dear..
    Tasty Appetite

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  15. I'm always so impressed by people who can walk the fine line between too much and too little lavender. This jelly sounds delicious!

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  16. wow, so you succeed in making the jellies? did it really take 2 weeks to set? the texture looks wonderful!congratulations too on the visit from the fairy hobmother!

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  17. Your lavender jelly looks awesome! Wish I can try some :))

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  18. I love lavender, but never had jelly of it. Sounds fragrant and delicious both.

    I would love to get myself a cooking set of calphalon :)

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  19. Using dried lavender flowers in jam making is such a lovely idea. Beautiful.

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  20. What a coincidence that the Fairy Hobmother also paid me a visit and I recently published a post on lavender! I should make some of your lavender jelly to accompany my lavender bread :) The orchids are beautiful. I used to have quite a few pots in CO but they don't seem to like it here as much in MN :(

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  21. I am sure this will be superb with peanut butter. Aiyoh, thinking of it makes me drool!

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  22. Congratulations! That jelly sounds delicious!

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  23. It looks fabulous and pretty easy to prepare. Congratulations!

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  24. Your orchid is gorgeous. I'm so jealous as I can't grow them here at all. Growing up in L'ville, my best friend's dad had a greenhouse in their back yard filled with nothing but orchids. Pretty beautiful flowers. The lavender jelly sounds good, a must try. I just bought lavender extract and am trying to figure out what to do with it.

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  25. I can't grant you another wish but I do have some awards waiting for you on my blog :) Do check it out. Have a lovely weekend!

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  26. Dear Lyndsey what nicece jelly and what LOVELY visit of the Fairy Hobmother I always heard about her, what lucky you.I really would love a Hobmother visit.
    Love your lavender jelly look delicious! gloria

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  27. Congratulations on the Fairy Hobmother! I would love to try lavender jelly. It sounds so fancy and it must have a nice fragrance to it. Such a nice breakfast treat. :-)

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  28. What a beautiful jelly - love the hint of lavender!

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