Kristen's Recipes

Put 3-4 pounds chopped apples in a non-reactive pan. Add enough water to barely cover apples and bring to a boil. Lower temperature immediately and let simmer until soft, approximately 20-30 minutes. Pour apples and liquid through a fine sieve into a second pot. Without stirring, let this liquid drain overnight. Bring liquid to a boil and cook until it has reduced to half its original volume. Test pectin content (see instructions below) and continue to cook if necessary. Once liquid pectin reaches the desired strength, store it in the fridge or freezer.

Testing the Pectin Level

To determine the amount of pectin in your liquid, put 1 tsp. the liquid on a plate and add 2 tsp. rubbing alcohol to the mix. Swirl the mixture around until clots start to form. It will amaze you, but it will happen: You will know the strength of the pectin by the size of the clots.

You want a fairly large viscous clot to indicate strong pectin. Weak pectin will show up as several small, scattered clumps. If that is the case, bring the liquid back to a boil and reduce further. And toss out the test batch-you don’t want to return that to the pot. Once the pectin reaches the desired strength, refrigerate, freeze, or can it until you make jam. It will keep in the fridge for up to one week.

Using Homemade Pectin

As a general guide, 2/3 C. liquid pectin is enough to set 4 C. low-pectin prepared fruit or fruit juice. Here again, you have room for whimsy. If you use strawberries (low in pectin) alone, use the full amount of liquid pectin. If you throw in a few currants (high in pectin) with the strawberries, use less liquid pectin. If you use half currants and half strawberries, you might not need any liquid pectin at all.

In the end, willingness to learn by trial and error and to love whatever the outcome is what will win the day.

DIY Flavored Extracts

Vanilla Extract (single 4oz bottle)

• 3 whole vanilla beans
• Vodka (You can also use bourbon)

Mint Extract (4oz)

• ½ C. mint leaves
• Vodka

Orange Extract (4oz)

• 1 large navel orange
• Vodka

Lemon Extract (4oz)

• 1 large lemon
• Vodka

To make Vanilla Extract:

1. Cut your vanilla beans in half, then split open each half to expose the vanilla seeds on the inside of the pod.
2. Place cut vanilla beans inside your glass bottle.
3. Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
4. Seal tightly and store bottle in a cool, dry place.
5. Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
6. After 5-6 weeks, you have extract! (If you leave in your vanilla beans, when you start running low, just add more vodka and wait a little.)

To make Mint Extract:

1. Stuff mint leaves into your glass bottle.
2. Using a chopstick, skewer, or other poking device, lightly bruise/crush the leaves inside the bottle.
3. Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
4. Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
5. After 5-6 weeks, you have extract! (I’m not sure if, like vanilla extract, you can just leave the mint leaves inside. Since it’s leafy plant matter which disintegrates more easily, it may be a good idea to take it out. My leaves went from a vibrant green in the beginning to kind of a dull brown by the end so I took them out just to be safe – I poured my mint extract into another container through a sieve and discarded the mint leaves, then poured the filtered extract back into the bottle.)

To make Orange Extract:

1. Peel thin strips of zest from ½ of your orange.
2. Place zest into your glass bottle.
3. Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
4. Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
5. After 5-6 weeks, you have extract! (I think with citrus peels the acid (and alcohol bath), it’s probably safe to leave the peels inside the bottle like a vanilla bean for re-fill purposes. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, take it out!)

To make Lemon Extract:

1. Peel thin strips of zest from your lemon.
2. Place zest into your glass bottle.
3. Add vodka, filling up to the neck of the bottle.
4. Every few days, tilt your bottle upside down to gently mix the liquid inside.
5. After 5-6 weeks, you have extract!