Easy Berry Canning Juice

This is based on a long family recipe, and I changed some of it to make it very more protected, though, it makes the best juice, and it's very easy, you just have to give it some time for the flavors to develop.

It is for only berries, any berries.

In an extremely clean and sterilized quart canning jar, add 1 cup of berries, whole, sliced, or mashed. 1/2 cup of sugar, and then fill the jar with boiling water up to about 1/2 inch from the top. Seal the two-part lid.

I water bath canning them for boiling 20 minutes, then when they seal, put them into a dark cooler or room temperature place, putting them in boxes closed up works well. They need a month to 6 weeks before you try them. I put one in the refrigerator at night, and the next morning, I just strain the juice into another container, and some people compost what's left, and some use them in jello, or bread, I prefer to compost.

With Concord grapes, if you like Welch's grape juice, it is superior juice, so, no need to go through all the hassles of making juice before canning.

Various people in the family have tried to make them sugar-free, but, they really haven't found anything that they like yet, so, just use sugar or honey if you prefer. I am going to try using it with blue agave syrup, and since it is sugar, it should work. It is kind of expensive, it still is sugar, though, it is good for diabetics, the blood sugar will be more even than regular sugar.

Source: My family from way back.

By Kathryn Visser from Rockford, MI