Jalapeno Jelly

Ok so this isn't quick to make but when you need a gift quick or something unusual to take to a gathering, this will get rave reviews. Dump a jar of your jelly over a block of cream cheese and serve it with some crackers or use red peppers to make the recipe again and have a red and green Christmas gift. The jalapeno flavor is familiar but unexpected in something sweet.

Ingredients:

3 green bell peppers, seeded and finely choped - about a cup and a half

4 jalapeno peppers, rinsed, seeded and chopped, about a third of a cup

1 1/2 cups of apple cider vinegar

4 cups of sugar

3 ounces of liquid fruit pectin (Certo)

2 drops of green food coloring

Tools

5 1/2 pint jars, sterilized, with cute lids

non aluminum sauce pan

food processor or blender

jelly bag or sieve lined with cheesecloth

When you clean the jalapeno peppers, do it under running water. Place all of the peppers and half of the vinegar in your food processor fitted with the steel blade or in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a heavy nonaluminum sauce pan. Pour remaining vinegar into the processor or blender and rinse all the pieces of pepper into the pan. Add the sugar.

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil that cannot be stirred down and boil hard for 1 minute. Pour the mixture into a jelly bag or a sieve lined with a double layer of cheesecloth set over a large bowl to drain. Don't squeeze or the jelly will be cloudy. Discard the pulp in the bag.

Return the liquid to the saucepan and bring it to a boil again. Remove from heat and stir in pectin thoroughly.

Pour the jelly immediately into hot jelly glasses, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal at once with lids or paraffin. Cool and store in the refrigerator.

Breads

Can't believe I left out this category. Cousin Ortha Hersh of Dallas, Texas reminded me that I needed one though. She sent me these bread machine recipies.

Ortha writes: My son got me one of these machines for Christmas and we are hooked on fresh bread now. It makes the 1 1/2 loaf. These are my favorites so far.

Mom sent this one and I have a hard time keeping it around long enough to cool.

Raisin Bread

Water 1 cup + 1 tbsp.

Oil 3 tbsp

Sugar 1 1/2 tbsp

Salt 1 1/2 tsp.

Cinnamon 2 tsp.

Bread flour 3 c.

Raisins 1/2 c.

Red Star yeast 2 1/4 tsp.

We like this Zuni Bread with stews and chile. It is a Southwest Indian bread.

1 1/2 Teaspoons active dry yeast

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cup yellow cornmeal

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoons molasses

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 1 cup warm water