We love this time of year when the fireweed is in bloom. You see it all around you, these beautiful purple flowers covering most of the landscape. If you are familiar with this plant then you know that fireweed is more than just pretty to look at, in fact, you can harvest it and make jelly and honey! Each year we love to make both, can it to use all year long. Here is all you need to do!
Fireweed Jelly
Ingredients
2 1⁄2 cups fireweed juice
1 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1⁄2 teaspoon butter
1 (1 3/4 ounce) package dry pectin
3 cups of sugar
How to:
You will need to harvest approximately 8 cups of fireweed flowers to get the fireweed juice needed for this recipe.
Add in water. Just enough water to make the water level below the top of packed flowers.
Boil flowers in water
Strain juice through a cheesecloth.
Heat fireweed juice, lemon juice and, butter on the stovetop.
Add pectin and bring to boil (boil for about 1 minute)
Combine sugar and bring it to a full boil. (boil for about 1 minute)
Skim top of the jelly.
You can pour the mixture into a pitcher or just leave in pot. Skim mixture again. (a pitcher will make it easier to fill the jars)
Fill sterilized jars leaving space at top and seal!
Fireweed Honey
Ingredients
50 pink clover blooms
10 - 15 white clover blooms
18-25 fireweed blooms
5 lb. bag white sugar
3 cups boiling water
3/4 tsp. alum
How to:
Wash blooms in cold water to remove any/ all insects.
Place all ingredients except water in the pan, then pour boiling water in.
Let sit for 10- 12 minutes.
Boil mixture to full boil and boil for 10 minutes.
Strain through cheesecloth.
Ladle into canning jars and seal.
If you are planning to pick some fireweed this year we hope that you give one of our recipes a try!