Jellies, Jams and Conserves, Oh My!

[lcertuche]

Well phooey, at least it works for flu. The last time I came down with the flu about 5 years ago I took tamiflu and was still laid up for a week. Sick, sick, sick...The flu vaccine always makes my joints and bones hurt so bad I can hardly move for a week. I don't know which is worse. This year I'll just do the elderberry syrup and not worry about vaccine side-effects or prescription flu meds.

I found a persimmon tree on our property that is loaded down with big hard green persimmons. I hope in a few weeks I can make some preserves or freeze some pulp for something. Maybe dehydrate for fruit leather. I love persimmons.

We had a late freeze so the peaches and apples didn't do much. My grandson picked the only apple (green) a few weeks ago and the two peaches I can find look pretty bleak. I thought the plum trees would have plums but all the fruit looks like little dried up raisins now. I have no idea what happened. I think one weekend soon I will walk the surrounding woods and see if their is any thing worth gathering. I know I have passion fruit vines with fruit everywhere. I've never tried it but we are eager to try it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm jealous of your persimmons. I've planted several trees, but after getting a couple of persimmons off of one of them for a few years - it hasn't produced since. Could have something to do with the over abundance of rain we've had. They are looking pretty bleak... sigh.

Those persimmons on your tree will be much sweeter after a frost. Hope you get bunches!

 

[Britesea]

I have read that it's better to do without the flu vaccine because the vaccine just gives you immunity from one particular strain; if you actually get the flu and work through it, you are immune to all the strains. I have no idea if it's true, but it sure sounds good.

 

[lcertuche]

Last year I was the only one not to get the flu vaccine out of six of us and I was also the only one not to get the flu.

 

[lcertuche]

Well I bought a couple bags of jalapenos, along with some red and yellow bell peppers. A friend gave me a gallon bag of sweet banana peppers. I chopped up the bells and banana peppers and threw into the dehydrator. I chopped up on bag of jalapenos and put back in the refrigerator. I want to make some jalapeno jelly. If I don't do it tomorrow I will pop it in the freezer until I do. I will be chopping up the other bag tomorrow and dehydrating them as well. Someone at church gave me six broilers with lemon and pepper seasoning for the freezer. I cooked one Sunday in the crockpot. Boy howdy! I mixed up some dressing and cooked it on top while we were at church. YUM, yum! I got a good deal on chicken wings at my husbands work. 40 pounds for 28 dollars. Wings are my grandsons favorite part. I made some barbecue wings for supper Saturday night and they were so good. I do wish I could can some of my roosters but until I can get a canner (or just need some meat) I will leave them free ranging.

 

[lcertuche]

I'm wanting to make some jalapeno jelly or jam but I haven't really found a recipe I like. I want to use powdered pectin instead of the liquid and maybe some cranberry or apple juice.

Does anyone have a recipe they love? I will probably just combine a couple of recipe ideas to come up with something. It would have to be pretty bad for me not to like it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I don't, but sure hope you find one!

 

[baymule]

Elderberry syrup works on virus, it stops the virus from replicating. So you might feel cruddy, but you won't get as sick because the elderberry is keeping the virus from spreading.

 

[Britesea]

But Elderberry doesn't work on ALL viruses. Apparently just influenza.

 

[MoonShadows]

FROM WEBMD.COM

ELDERBERRY

Other Names:

Arbre de Judas, Baccae, Baises de Sureau, Black-Berried Alder, Black Elder, Black Elderberry, Boor Tree, Bountry, Elder, Common Elder. Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder, European Black Elder, Europea...
See All NamesArbre de Judas, Baccae, Baises de Sureau, Black-Berried Alder, Black Elder, Black Elderberry, Boor Tree, Bountry, Elder, Common Elder. Elder Berry, Elderberries, Elderberry Fruit, Ellanwood, Ellhorn, European Alder, European Black Elder, European Black Elderberry, European Elderberry, European Elder Fruit, European Elderberry, Fruit de Sureau, Grand Sureau, Hautbois, Holunderbeeren, Sabugeuiro-negro, Sambequier, Sambu, Sambuc, Sambuci Sambucus, Sambucus nigra, Sambugo, Sauco, Saúco Europeo, Schwarzer Holunder, Seuillet, Seuillon, Sureau, Sureau Européen, Sureau Noir, Sus, Suseau, Sussier.

ELDERBERRY Overview Information

Elderberry is a plant. The berries are used to make medicine. Do not confuse elderberry with American Elder, Elderflower, or Dwarf Elder.

Elderberry is used for “the flu” (influenza), H1N1 "swine" flu, HIV/AIDS, and boosting the immune system. It is also used for sinus pain, back and leg pain (sciatica), nerve pain (neuralgia), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) .

Some people use elderberry for hay fever (allergic rhinitis), cancer, as a laxative for constipation, to increase urine flow, and to cause sweating.

Elderberry fruit is also used for making wine and as a food flavoring.

How does it work?

Elderberry might affect the immune system. Elderberry seems to have activity against viruses including the flu, and might reduce inflammation.

Possibly Effective for:

“The flu,” also called influenza. A specific syrup containing elderberry juice (Sambucol, Nature’s Way) seems to relieve flu symptoms and reduce the length of time the flu lasts when taken by mouth within 24-48 hours of the first symptoms. Some research also shows that an elderberry lozenge (ViraBLOC, HerbalScience) also reduces symptoms of the flu. Symptom relief seems to occur within 2 to 4 days of treatment for most people.

Insufficient Evidence for:

Heart disease. Early evidence shows that taking elderberry extract daily for 12 weeks does not reduce symptoms of heart disease in postmenopausal women.

High cholesterol. Early evidence shows that taking capsules containing dried elderberry three times daily for 2 weeks does not reduce cholesterol levels in people with high cholesterol.

Cancer.

Constipation.

Nerve pain.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

H1N1 "swine" flu.

Hay fever.

HIV/AIDS.

Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate elderberry for these uses.

ELDERBERRY Side Effects & Safety

Taking an elderberry juice extract is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for up to 12 weeks. It’s not known if taking elderberry juice extract is safe when used for long periods of time.

Elderberry is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when the leaves, stems, unripened fruit, or uncooked fruit is consumed. The cooked elderberry fruit seems to be safe, but raw and unripe fruit might cause nausea, vomiting, or severe diarrhea.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the safety of using elderberry during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

“Autoimmune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Elderberry might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using elderberry.

Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with ELDERBERRY

Elderberry can increase the immune system. Taking elderberry along with some medications that decrease the immune system might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system.

Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.


ELDERBERRY Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

The flu: one tablespoon (15 mL) 4 times daily of a specific elderberry juice-containing syrup (Sambucol, Nature’s Way) daily for 3-5 days. A dose of 15 mL (1 tablespoon) twice daily for 3 days has been used in children. A specific elderberry lozenge (ViraBLOC, HerbalScience) 175 mg 4 times daily for 2 days.