October 9, 2010
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A wheelbarrel full of grapes
In theme with a summer that has been filled with harvesting any free food that comes our way
I decided to see what I could do with a ton of grapes that were beginning to go to waste on the vine. The other day when I walked by the vines it was starting to smell like a winery so I figured it was now or never to take advantage of these beauties. There were several varities growing next to each other and very few Concord so I wasn’t sure how the juice would taste.
This is the first time I’ve ever harvested grapes. The process is indeed labor intensive (I won’t even go into the description of a gazillion spiders that surfaced once we began cleaning them!). After cleaning the grapes I put them in the tallest pan I own and filled it with water just barely covering the grapes. I brought the water to a boil and kept it there for 15-20 minutes until the skins broke open.
I didn’t have any cheesecloth but I had read you could use a pillowcase instead. I didn’t have any extra pillowcases so I used a cloth napkin which I placed inside a small handheld collander which I balanced on the rim of a tall pot. I then used my hand held blender to break up the grapes. The juice flowed through pretty easy at first but then the pulp created a layer that made it more difficult for the juice to drain. At that point I would gather up the ends of the napking and start squeezing the juice through.
I ended up with a TON of juice. We are using some of it as just plain fruit juice over ice. The rest I’m using to make grape jelly. So far I’ve made 8 jars to give away as Christmas gifts. The color is not as red as it turned out in this picture but not as dark purple as the brand you’d find in the stores. It’s kind of a medium color of purple. Very nice.
I was thinking while picking the grapes how much I’ve enjoyed my garden work this summer. The Lord brings many lessons from Scripture to mind as I’m weeding or dead heading plants. As I was pruning back the dead vines I thought of these verses…
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. Jn 15:1-2I believe that may be what the Lord is doing in our lives during this difficult season of life. The part of our life that is not bearing fruit is being pruned in order that we may bear more fruit. Oh, how I pray that is true!
Comments (9)
What a view out that window into the orchard! I love it! You jelly looks fantastic!
It is beautiful, Geogene. I have a grape juicer if you would like to borrow it. It is super easy and minimal cleanup.
I’m not sure I could endure all those spiders…. but that juice sure looks pretty tasty!
God’s provision and your tenacity are amazing! Clinging to God… it’s a GOOD life. He is our GOOD God. I thank God for God….and I thank God for you. Q.’
@betheelou - Actually it’s a pain out on our porch that looks onto the garden and the orchard. But, thank you for the compliment.
There is a lot of beauty surrounding us.. you just need ‘His’ eyes to see it!
@Mother_of_Encouragement - Thank you Joyce! You’re so thoughtful. I don’t like to borrow items for fear they will break. But, thank you so much for the offer. How are you? How is work and how is your husband feeling? Write when you can.
@QMTJ - Actually, I couldn’t bear the spiders either so Kevin did the dirty deed.
We’ve been so blessed. I have buckets full of almonds waiting to be shelled and enough tomatoes to make several batches of tomato sauce and more grape juice then I’ll be able to use. Our life is very untraditional (Unamerican?) right now but our days are full and we are thankful to God.
We have lived for several years near a vineyard which mostly sells their grapes to wineries but when they would have a bumper crop, they would open up so that the locals could cut their own grapes. i’ve used lots of different varieties of grapes in my juice and it all tastes wonderful!
Because i don’t like labor intensive work, i found a quick and easy grape juice recipe in my Kerr Canning Book ~ “Wash one cup Concord (or any variety) grapes, put into sterilized quart jar, add 1/2 c. sugar, fill to within 1/2″ of top of jar with boiling water. Put on cap,screwing the band firmly tight. Process 15 min. in Boiling Water Bath” That’s all there is to it. The grapes kind of shrivel up and lay in the bottom of the jar. It takes a few days to fully become juice and it has a lighter more delicate flavor that the grape juice that comes from the store, but we like it that way and it is definitely quick and easy.
I forgot to mention….the juicer belongs to God, and He said you could borrow it. If it breaks…it breaks. (But I don’t think it will. His stuff is pretty durable. We have been borrowing it for some 30+ years and it is still working beautifully.) The offer still stands.
That;s a lot of grapes. Homemade grape juice is so good.