Patricia Stoltey

Author

One Dilemma After Another

By:

So Much to Do, So Little Time

I need a giant bottle of time.

You know, like “If I could save time in a bottle….”

I’d let out a few minutes only as needed, which hopefully would help me avoid waste.

What To Do With All This Grape Juice?

Last year I tried to make wine from my Concord grapes, but it didn’t work out so well. I had to dump the whole batch because I skipped the step of ridding my grapes of their natural (and undesirable) yeast and using winemaker’s yeast for fermentation.

This year, with a harvest too small to consign my grapes to the local winemaker I used a few years ago (Vintages in Fort Collins, Colorado), I mashed and strained the juice. It’s actually more like a grape syrup, thick and rich and perfect for making grape jam…except I don’t care much for grape jam. I’m more a strawberry or apricot jam lover, especially on homemade biscuits. Yum!

But back to the grape juice.

I added a little water and some ice cubes and drank a big glass of this nectar of the gods, and still have a huge pitcher full left over. What to do?

The easy answer is on the Welch’s website which has a nice long list of recipes using their juice. There’s creamy grape pie, gala grape frost, grape juice tapioca, grape parfait pie, purple ambrosia, and more…and that’s just the dessert page.

I don’t have time to cook up all these goodies right now, of course, so I’m going to freeze most of my juicy syrup in small freezer bags and containers so I can take out a little bit at a time.

Three Weeks With No Guest Bloggers????

It’s true.

I don’t have a guest scheduled again until October 18th. This is an opportunity for anyone who can write funny, because I’d love to have see a few family-friendly humor or inspirational posts. Anyone interested?

If so, there’s an e-mail address listed on my profile page. Contact me and I’ll tell you what I need as well as what and how to submit. Beginning/aspiring/hopeful writers are welcome.

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Comments

  1. I have a big time problem, but it’s probably also related to time management. I really need to get a grip on time. I’m sure there are a number of writers who love to do a guest post for you. I was very pleased by the sign-ups I received and many were doing their very first guest post.

    Lee
    Tossing It Out

  2. Margot, I also bought some plain Greek yogurt and a few boxes of Jell-O in assorted flavors. Experimenting with a concoction of my own (to put in a graham cracker crust, of course) seems like a fun idea.

    E.J., I hadn’t thought of using it on pancakes (or even better, waffles) with a side order of bacon. Yum.

    Lorelei, I even bought four dandy little molds for the freezer so I can make grape freezer pops. I’m giving up on wine for now, though. Maybe I’ll have a bigger grape yield next summer.

    Alex — yes, that’s scary. But you are a very popular guy for very good reason. Don’t forget about me if you need a host blog sometime in the future.

  3. Pat, you made my mouth water. I remember the days in my father’s kitchen–oh boy! He made wine too. And from his grapes, or he would buy Welches. But I think you have a fine idea to use the nectar you collected. I’m sure the moment you need something, you will be glad you’ve got all that up in your freezer!

  5. Had no idea you were an amateur wine maker, Pat! Wouldn’t know the first thing about making it myself, the drinking of, however, is something I’m quite skilled at. 😀

    Using it as syrup for ice cream, pancakes, etc. is about all I can come up with only half-way into my first cup of coffee this morning…

    Going to send you a note about guest blogging.

  6. Pat – I give you a lot of credit for trying to make wine even if it wasn’t successful this time. I’m glad the Welch’s website helped you decide what to do with the juice you made. Grape parfait pie sounds wonderful… mmmm…!!