Thread: Pickel: Mom says Chokecherry Crop Will Be Good This Year

I might have to do Alberta and go berry picking.



These are WA berries. But, I'll be fighting off the Alberta grizzlies for my pickins. And making syrup and jelly. Yummmmmmy.

In case you get some, here's a recipe.


Chokecherry Jam

1 L prepared chokecherries (4 c)
1.5 L sugar (6 c)
57 g pkg fruit pectin crystals (2 oz)
l25 mL lemon juice (1/2 c)
Fill boiling water bath canner with hot water. Place 7 250 mL (1/2 pint) preserving jars in canner over high heat (to sterilize). Place metal snap lids in boiling water. Boil 5 min to soften sealing compound. Keep hot until ready to use.
Prepare chokecherries - wash, stem and crush fruit. Simmer with 250 mL (1 c) water until tender. Put through sieve or food mill to remove stones. Measure 875 mL (3 1/2 c) fruit and 125 mL (1/2 c) lemon juice. Place fruit in a 5 L (5 qt) saucepan or kettle. Add 1 mL (1/4 tsp) butter to reduce foaming. Add pectin crystals to fruit and stir well. Place over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid scorching. Remove from heat, add sugar and stir until all sugar is dissolved. Return to heat, continue stirring, and bring to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil hard for 1 min, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and skim off foam. Stir and skim for 5 min to cool slightly to reduce floating fruit. Ladle into hot sterile jar. Leave 1 cm (1/2 inch) headspace. Clean jar rim. Center metal snap lid. Apply screw band just until fingertip tight. Place in canner. Repeat with remaining jars. Adjust boiling water level to 2.5 cm (1 inch) above jar tops. Cover canner. Process 10 min in boiling water bath. Begin process time when water returns to a boil. Remove from canner. Set upright and spaced apart out of drafts to cool. Cool 24 h. Test for seal (sealed lids curve downward in center). Remove screw bands. Wipe jars, label and date. Store in a cool dark location.
Yield: 7 250 mL (1/2 pint) jars.

More sugar than berries?




P.S. I'm cheering for the grizzlies.

Originally Posted by pickel

More sugar than berries?

Is it any wonder. Pick and eat a choke cherry and quickly find out why they have the name. Forget the jam. Make some choke cherry wine. Still a lot of sugar but ya won't give a damn.

Originally Posted by pickel

P.S. I'm cheering for the grizzlies.

Grizzly's are sure to win their share. Moose, deer, elk etc. never touch the stuff. Poison for them, eh!

I've had both the berries and the wine, much prefer the wine. Though, when I drank it I was a teenager, and it was the only liquor that my friend could steal from his parents. I've become much more cultured since those days.

Originally Posted by pickel

I've become much more cultured since those days.

Nothing but the best now is it. Another Spy drinking hi so?

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by pickel

P.S. I'm cheering for the grizzlies.

Poison for them, eh!

They would probably react to Jet in a similar fashion.

Originally Posted by Norton

Another Spy drinking hi so?

I'm actually drinking a nice glass of Woodbridge cab-merlot at the moment thank you very much.

Fuckin hillbillies.