It's my day for cooking adventures. Hey eichin!

[cjsmith]

While the aforementioned chicken marinade was in the oven, I read kitiara's post about canning. She mentioned Mountain Dew jelly.

Yes folks, it's made from Mountain Dew.

This I had to try. As soon as the chicken was safely out of the oven I ran to the grocery store for the things I didn't have: Mountain Dew, sugar in case I didn't have enough, pectin, and jelly jars.

No, I've never made any kind of jelly before, nor canned anything at all, in my life. Funny you should ask. I spent some time stuck on the idea that I needed three really big pots. kitiara graciously told me I could do a lot of this in shifts.

Step 1: Sterilize the jars by boiling, then keep them hot until ready to use. I decided that my kitchen sink filled with almost-boiling water would make a fairly good heatmass. Finally all the jars were sitting in hot water, along with their lids, and the rims with the screw-threads were sitting on the countertop to dry. No, my countertop is not sterile. Quit asking distracting questions.

Step 2: Make the GOOOOOO. I had no idea Mountain Dew could dissolve more than its own volume of granulated sugar. I am now deeply disturbed by this knowledge.

Step 3: Into the jars! Yes, the jars that are sitting in water so hot I don't want to stick my hand in. I must have messed up somewhere along the line. I barely got five jars of jelly, while I think kitiara got twelve. I tasted the drippings. Lemony!

Step 4: Boil the jars again. I think this propitiates the gods of lid-sealing. I bowed to the pot a few times just to be sure.

Step 5: Use telekinesis to get the jars out of the boiling water and onto a towel to cool. I cheated and used oven gloves with plastic grocery bags around them.

So now I have pretty yellow jelly - caffeinated jelly, no less! - and a whole bunch of extra Mountain Dew I get to drink.

Comments

[annina-writes.livejournal.com]

Ginger! Yum! If you do it, try using the kind of ginger beer that they sell for mixing drinks...it's wonderfully gingery. Knowing how much we love the stuff, we'd probably slice some fresh ginger into the jelly and strain it out before canning. Chris makes ginger in syrup by the jar-full to put into oriental cuisine or just to chew on when one of us has a tummy ache or sore throat. It's light syrup, and beats the heck out of that ginger that has been candied and rolled in granulated sugar. Ewwww!

I may just look for the recipe and make some of the Dew jelly for Erik. It's always been his favorite soft drink. ;-) Congratulations on your success!

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Wonderfully gingery is just what I'd want! How would I find that kind of ginger beer? Does it go by a particular name?

I, too, adore ginger. Mmmmmm.

Dew Jelly Recipe, plagiarized from Kit who got it from someone else:
Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups Mountain Dew (two 12 oz cans)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 package Sure Jell pectin

Directions:
Pour the Mountain Dew and lemon juice into a 6- to 8-quart pot. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for 3 minutes. Let it cool slightly, then follow the Sure Jell directions. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. (You can also try inversion, but kitiara's didn't seal when she did that.)

mmm.. Ginger...

[gev.livejournal.com]

Reed's & Blenheim both make really tasty ginger ale/beer.

Re: mmm.. Ginger...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Mmm, Blenheim! That name rings a bell. I've had theirs - very good. Thanks for the reminder! 8-)

Re: mmm.. Ginger...

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Reed's also makes a fabulous Chocolate Ginger Ice cream. It's available at the Whole Foods.

Re: mmm.. Ginger...

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh

Re: mmm.. Ginger...

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

Blenheim ginger ale makes my nose run.

It comes in both mild and strong options.

(Note: I like strong.)

Re: mmm.. Ginger...

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

My nose doesn't react strongly to ginger, though even a wimpy hot and sour soup will have me reaching for a tissue. Hmm, I don't know which option I've had. At the scooter party, which version of Blenheim's was sitting around? I had that. It was yyyyyummy.