thebusyfrugalmom.com

Being a mom I make a lot of PB&J’s. They’re cheap enough but I had to know could I get even more frugal? After making my strawberry preserves, I wondered if I make grape jelly too. How hard can it be? I looked that up too and was shocked at how frugal and easy grape jelly is to make.

Ingredients

• 5 Cups grape juice
• 1 (1.75 ounce) box of Sure-Jell pectin
• 7 cups sugar

Directions

1. Place 5 cups of juice in a large pot
2. Add fruit pectin to the juice
3. Mix well
4. Using high heat & stirring constantly, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil vigorously for 1 minute
5. Add and stir in sugar all at once, and bring back to a full rolling boil, again boil vigorously for 1 minute stirring constantly.
6. Remove from heat, skim off foam and pour into hot jars.

Storage

I knew I could freeze strawberry preserves pretty easily but I found out grape jelly does not freeze so well. This means I have to find some canning jars. If it’s not canning season, these little jars are hard to come by locally. I finally found them (after a tip from my aunt) at Ace Hardware.

At this point you have 3 choices. Store in some containers you have around your home, use jars and paraffin wax (also found at Ace Hardware but not the best method), or use old fashioned canning jars. If you store in regular containers be prepared to use it fast or give it away. Canning jars will make it shelf stable for about 1 year.

Cost

My cost break down:

• Juice -  Bought on BOGO sale at Publix ($3.59 for 2 64 ounces bottles)
• Sugar - ($1.32 for 7 Cups - bought 25lbs at Sam’s)
• Pectin - ($3.25)

Recipe makes about 6 pints or 12 - 8 ounce jars. At less than $.48 per jar it’s much cheaper to make it yourself.