Ohh, Dandelion Jelly!

Late spring in Michigan can provide abundant dandelion flowers

Dandelion jelly, it's sort of reminisant of honey and deliciouse on toast! Sounts good doesnt it? During spring take advantage of these sunny yellow blossoms but please, be sure to use blossoms only from areas that have not been sprayed with toxic herbacids or pesticides. The recipe follows. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
    4 Cups of dandelion petals packed loosley or 2 cups packed petals
    4 Cups of sugar (organic cane sugar )
    2 Tbsp. lemon juice (or 2 tsp. citric acid)
     1 box (1.75 0z.) Sure-Jell Fruit Pectin
      Boiling Water
     
Instructions:
    1. Harvest roughtly 8 cups of dandelion flower heads. Carefully remove just the yellow petals. You will then have 
         about 4 cups of flower petals (not packed).

    2.  Make a dendelion petal tea by pouring 4 cups of boiling water over the cleaned flower petals. Allow to seep from 1                to 24 hours. 

    3.  Strain the liquid from the petals. Press all liquid from the petals. You should than have 3 3/4 to 4 cups of tea. 

    4.  Pour the dandelion tea into a havey bottomed saucepan. Add the lemon juice and pectin. DO NOT ADD THE SUGAR 
          Bring this mixture to a boil.

     5. Once the mixture is rapidly boiling, add the sugar, stir well to combine, allowing to return to a hard boil, and boil
          for 1 to 2 minutes.

    6.  Remove from heat

   7  Pour the jelly into prpared jars, seal and allow the jelly to cool and set for at least 12 hours.

   8. Store in the refridgerator

​If you like you can also seal in jars, using the hot water bath method.