STRAWBERRY PEACH/STRAWBERRY JELLY

Steps:

• 1. We are going to start with making your juices for the jelly. We will start with the strawberries. You need to put your strawberries in water to rinse them, and remove the tops and stems. You can also cut some up if you choose. As you finish each one put it in a stock pot. When they are all in the pot add about a 1/2 c. water for every 4 cups of berries. Turn your stove to a medium high heat and bring your berries to a boil, stirring constantly. When you have brought them to a boil, turn them down, and loosely put a cover on your pot. Let your berries boil easy and stir and crush your berries occasionally. Just until the strawberries are soft. Anywhere between 3 and 10 minutes, generally.
• 2. You need to have another large pot or bowl you can hang something over ready. I use clips and hang a pillow case up high in a stock pot and pour my strawberry mixture in there. Then I put a lid over it. You can use a cheese cloth as well, tie it at the top and hang it over your bowl or pot. You will want to leave that hanging for at least 3 hours to overnight. 3 or 4 hours does it for me.
• 3. While your strawberries are hanging, it is time to do your peaches. You need to pit your peaches, you don't have to peel them unless you choose to. I cut them down a bit, into about 2 inch pieces. You could quarter them. Put the pieces in a stockpot or dutch oven. When done add about 1/2 cup water per pound of peaches. Bring to a boil over a high heat, while stirring and lightly mashing a bit. When at a boil, put a cover over it lightly and stir occasionally. Let the peaches cook about 20 minutes or until real soft. Then we are going to hang these in a jelly bag, cheese cloth or pillow case as well. Again about 3 to 4 hours.
• 4. After the time has passed, take your pillow case, cheese cloth or jelly bag down and either throw it away or empty into trash and rinse well, if its a keeper. Pour your strawberry juice into one container and your peach juice in another.
• 5. You should have enough juice here to make strawberry peach jelly at least once if not more. Or . . . you can look again in here as I will also be posting a Peach Jelly recipe and the Strawberry Jelly recipe and you should have enough to make the Strawberry Peach and one batch of each of those as well. Now it is time to heat your jars and lids and get them ready for the jelly.
• 6. First pre measure your sugar into an easily poured container. Now put your juices in a large or tall dutch oven or stock pot. Whisk in your pectin. Add your margarine and turn this onto a high heat, stirring occasionally. When it comes to a good boil, pour in your sugar all at once. Keep stirring and bring this mixture to a rolling boil. When you get it to a rolling boil, turn down just a hair as it needs to keep boiling and boil it for a full minute. Not less, a hair over won't hurt.
• 7. Take your pan off the heat and skim the foam off. Ladle your jelly quickly into sterilized jars, wiping the rim and putting your heated lids and rings on.
• 8. I have heard it both ways. To play it safe, I put these in a hot water bath for 10 minutes and then set in a cool dry airless place on a towel, until cooled. Then label them and don't forget to add todays date. Enjoy!
• 9. NOTE: If you just want to make just Strawberry Jelly make the 1 cup of peach juice another cup of Strawberry juice making it a total of 3 1/2 cups of Strawberry Juice. Then just make it the same way, just with the one juice instead of two.