Purple Haze

Today's project: three batches of elderberry jelly. It's been a days-long odyssey of tromping through neck-high brush, picking, mashing, simmering, squeezing, squishing, boiling, and purple messes all over the kitchen. But there is the satisfying sight of 11 jars cooling on the kitchen counter. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this stuff sets. Last time I made it, the pectin never set, but we ended up with some damn good pancake syrup.

I'm not quite done yet. I have enough thick, unctuous dark juice left to make maybe two batches of cordial. I found a recipe on line, and it has 'holidays' written all over it (meaning it is redolent of brandy, spices and sugar).

I also got excited about trying apple butter. I've never made that before, but I'm going to give that a try one of these days, too. It takes forever to cook down, but that doesn't really scare me. Slow food is a good thing.