When we moved into our house 2 years ago, we noticed we had grapes growing on our deck, but they had been extensively cut back right before we moved in. So, the first year we didn't get any grapes and last year we got about a bowl full. This years was awesome though, we had lots of grapes! I was soo excited to try my hand at making grape juice. I remember my mom making homemade grape juice when I was a kid and I loved it!!!
I knew the grapes were ready to pick because the birds who visited our back yard had grown in number recently and I didn't want them to steal all my grapes!!!
Here I'm busy harvesting
(please ignore that I'm standing on the "do not stand" level of the ladder)
This is a perfectly ripe bunch O grapes!
Here's 1 of 2 bowls full of grapes ready to make into juice
Next, I washed the grapes several times
Then, I filled a pan half full of grapes and added water to within an inch of the top of the pan. I slowly brought the grapes to a simmer until the grapes had lost their color (if you bring the grapes to a boil too hard or too quickly they give off a bitter taste)
Then I set up this fancy draining station on the dining room table.
I poured my pot of grapes & water into a pillowcase and let it drain overnight.
I then had this beautiful juice, which I reheated on the stove the next morning.
Each quart jar gets a half cup sugar and then filled with the heated grape juice.
Process 10 minutes in a water bath and you're done.
Nothing left, but to enjoy the homemade grape juice! It turned out great! So tasty... just like I remember from when I was a kid!!!
