Free Food Jellies

After reading a post on my friend Rebecca's blog, my memory was jogged about my mom making violet jelly quite a few years ago. My mom has a reputation for trying, ahem, "exotic" things. So, like mother, like daughter. I cannot disappoint! :) I decided to try my hand at making some violet jelly, too, because I had always wanted to but just didn't make the time and also because when my mom made it, it turned out tasting "grassy". I have come to the conclusion that either my mom left the stems in the mix or forgot the lemon juice because my jelly turned out pretty tasty and all the boys (and mama and da!) love it.

The recipe that I looked up on the internet also mentioned that it worked with mint, lemon balm, etc. The woman also said that she wanted to try dandelions next. Hmmm... As I eyed our lawn overflowing with violets and dandelions and my herb garden with peppermint and lemon balm flourishing, I decided to make more than just violet jelly. Also, seeing as I will have a brand new baby smack dab in the middle of canning season, I thought I should can what I could now. Of course, I will have to make an exception for some more of those volcano pickles (YUM!)

Here are some photos of my "free food jellies": peppermint-lemon balm, violet, and dandelion. They look like jewels in the light! The mint kind is surprisingly not that minty, considering I used peppermint. The lemon balm must balance it out nicely. I did use a few drops of food coloring in the mint and the dandelion, but only perhaps 3-4 per recipe. It did perk up the color, though. I usually am not much for adding things like that to what I make, but the color was pretty bland without it. :)