Grape Harvest! Now what do I do with them?

[northstar]

Just for fun, I planted some grape plants on the side of my house a few years ago. WELL...this year I've got a bumper crop! (With clay-like soil around my house, the cool nites and warm/sunny days this year, the poor lil plants were fooled into thinking they were in Napa Valley and have truly 'out-done' themselves with production. Now I must have thirty pounds of grapes - at least!...I think they are concord grapes (just b/c of the rich purple color and the rich grape taste - they DO have seeds).

They're now fully ripe. The question IS, what should I do with them? Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance :-)

[stellanoir]

1. jelly would be simple

wine would be slightly more complicated

Bacchanalia festivities are always a reasonable option. . .

[northstar]

4. I've never made jelly or jam before

Is it complicated? I can get a good price and buy some 'canning jars/supplies', but I don't have one of those pressure cooker pot things I think one needs to make jelly/jam.

Any good recipes or tips for making jam/jelly? I'm willing to give it a try (maybe)....if I need that $80-100 pressure pot, I dunno....

[stellanoir]

10. it's not complicated

and you don't require an expensive pressure pot. I don't have a recipe because I haven't done it in years, but I'm sure you can find one online. Or buy a box of Certo. The box usually has some good ones on it. I usually cut wayyy down on the sugar. You just need a large saucepan, a wooden spoon, some sugar, some water, some jars, and Certo. Sometimes it's nice to add some lemon to give it a kick. But your trade idea below makes a lot of sense as well.

have fun !

[ps1074]

2. jam

:)

[tridim]

3. I'd dehydrate them

I do the same with roma tomatoes when I get too many. There's nothing better than homemade dehydrated fruit.

[Guy Fawkes]

5. eat them, give them away to neighbors, eat more of them...

[northstar]

6. Might do that......was also thinking of asking the guy at the local

farmstand if he would want to sell my grapes and would give me a 'produce credit' for some of his other stuff as trade. I think that might work (if he was willing).

[Guy Fawkes]

7. Ohh, see if he has mangos! Mangos kick a**

[northstar]

8. LOL (pssssssssst - *whispering*...I'm in the Midwest....No Mangos be here

(although they are good)

[Guy Fawkes]

9. I'm in wisconsin. People here *do* own greenhouses, you know...

[northstar]

11. Step right up folks.....get your hothouse mango right here!

Yessiree....that might work! </sarcasm>

(actually, I would LOVE to have my own greenhouse - and dabble in hydoponics as well - ah, dreams are good....but, reality is better...maybe someday I can make that *fun dream a reality*....in the meantime, I've STILL got 30+ pounds of grapes to get rid of *quick*!)

[miss_kitty]

12. fresh grape juice

yummy!