Anyone tried the no sugar type of Sur-gel? I saw it at the store the other day while I was picking up the regular kind. I didn't get any but have been thinking of putting up some preserves for Dave's mom. She's diabetic. Any comments yea or nea?

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 14, 2002

Answers

All I've ever seen besides the regular yellow box of Sur-Jel is Sur- Jel Light in a pink box; which is what I always use. It still takes sugar; just not as much. This one takes no sugar? Do you remember what color the box was? I'll take a look for it in town.

PS - what are you getting ready to make jelly out of? Strawberries, I bet; since ours are about 2 weeks from ripening!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), May 14, 2002.

Hi Polly, I almost pretty sure the box said "no sugar needed", but I'll have to double check. I was at Krogers. I was a little distracted because I got the sugar at 98 cents for 5 lbs.! yeah. Yep, the strawberries are ready here and I can't wait to have some jam. Told Dave I'd save some to make him a pie, though. :)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 14, 2002.

I'll take a look too, Annie - it was Sur-Jel brand, right? Good price on sugar; especially since most is sold in 4# bags now! I've been stocking up every time I catch it on sale as well - Hubs can't quite comprehend until I start listing: strawberry jam, blackberry jam, raspberry jam, peach jam.... I also use it when I put up sweet corn.

D'ya ever look at the stuff in the market and wonder if anybody but us cooks anymore? Flour in ziploc bags. "Homestyle" chicken and vegetable dinners in a bag. Ask a clerk to help you find the corn starch - go ahead, I dare you!! And if they can find it (after you describe the box) they don't have the faintest idea what it's used for!! I'm gettin' old...

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), May 14, 2002.

Polly, as if chicken and vegetable dinners in a bag weren't bad enough, what about all those bags of precooked mashed potatoes and boxes of precooked bacon? It's amazing what some people will spend good money on.

-- Murray in ME (lkdmfarm@megalink.net), May 16, 2002.

Amen, you all!!! I picked strawberries yesterday and there was only one young girl their with her kids all the rest of the pickers had grey hair! Reckon the old folks were the ones that actually put up jam. If they're a dying breed, can ya imagine what people think of us younger ones!!!??? :)

Yep, Polly it was Sur-Gel brand. I'm going into town tomorrow, so I'll swing by Krogers at check it out. I ran out of sur-gel while putting up jam yesterday, so I just froze the rest for pies. Dave likes the pie better....me, the jam. :)

-- Annie (mistletoe6@earthlink.net), May 16, 2002.

i buy my sure gel in bulk from an amish store. i got a 5# bag for lesst then $10. My wife say it will last several years and she puts up alot of jelly. she puts alot of fruit puree in the freezer and for xmas presents she makes many batches of everything and puts them in little baby food jars. she puts a bunch of these with nice doily things on top with a ribbon. adds a package of pancake mix or bisquit mix and puts it in a basket and it looks great.

-- randy in central missouri (rwybrant@coin.org), May 27, 2002.

I don't have an answer. I have a question--how to make plum jelly? Thanks,

-- Norma Jean Patterson (pattersn@orau.gov), July 08, 2002.