Basil Banana Pepper Jelly

My sister-in-law Dana shared a bag full of yellow and red banana peppers with me, and I immediately thought of making pepper jelly. We love to eat it with cream cheese and crackers while watching TV.  This year my garden is bursting with basil, which gives this jelly its unique flavor.  Basil Banana Pepper Jelly is a perfect hostess or teacher gift.

by Elizabeth Savoie Dronet, adapted from Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

Yield: 6 – 8oz jars or 12 – 4oz jars.  Ours actually filled 12 4oz jars and 1 8oz jar plus a little extra to eat that night.

1 cup          thinly diced, seeded mild banana peppers
1/2 cup      fresh hot peppers, seeds removed and diced (I used 5 hot cherry peppers.)
1/2 cup      red onion, finely diced
8 large       fresh basil leaves, cut into thin ribbons
1/2 tsp       dried basil
1 1/2 cup   white vinegar
6 cups        sugar
2 drops      red food coloring
6 drops      yellow food coloring
2 pouches liquid pectin (Certo)

Prepare jars, lids, and rings by washing them in hot soapy water.  Keep warm.  Bring a large pot of water to a simmer in preparation for processing jars after they are filled.  Water should be high enough to cover the jars at least 1 inch.

Combine peppers, red onion, fresh and dried basil in a large and tall pot.  (The mixture will foam and rise when it boils.) Stir in vinegar and sugar.  Add food coloring.

Over high heat, bring mixture to a full, rolling boil. Stirring constantly, boil hard 1 minute. (Set your timer.)  Remove from heat. Immediately stir in 2 pouches Certo, mixing well.

Ladle jelly into hot jars, dividing peppers equally among jars and filling each jar to within 1/8-1/4 inch of top rim. Wipe jar rims. Center lids on jars and screw on bands. Use a pot holder when handling the hot jars.

Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.  Jars must stand upright.  One of ours was on its side and the glass broke.  Dave and I like Ball’s green canning basket that easily lowers and lifts the hot jars into the boiling water.

Cool on the counter and listen for the popping sound that means you have successfully completed the job.

Serve with soft cream cheese and Wheat Thins.