Cherries are ready! Now what? Where to find Clear Jel?

[crabtree122202]

We have about 5 tart cherry trees that are ready to be picked! I was thinking about canning some pie filling, whole cherries in juice, making some cheraisins and maybe some fruit leather.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a recipe to use for any of these? There are so many on the internet but I need a treid and true recipe.
Also, what else can I do with them?

Where can I buy the Clear Jel needed for pie filling? I can order it online but it would take too long to get here. Do stores carry this?

Thanks to anyone who can help me!

Denise~

[shashabell]

I'm not a canner but I remember when I was little we used to pick those wonderful cherries and add sugar and make a slurry and eat it just like that. Yummy childhood memories. Could you do something like that on the stovetop and add some pectin to it and then can it? I may be way off. Like I said I'm not a canner person.

[mxmom99]

you should be able to find clear gel at just about any store this time of year

[foodie]

crabtree12202 and others--

We are Mennonite farmers in N VA area (hubby is an Electrical Engineer Manager for a Defense company in N VA); and I will be happy to give you some resources where I buy canning products, etc. Of course, family members, kiddos, myself, and hubby helps out on farm--

Anyway, friends and relatives of ours owns Mennonite Bulk Foods stores in PA areas; and they told me where they bought their products. A company based in PA (ships nationwide with Internet ordering and mail ordering) is called Dutch Valley Bulk Foods. Dutch Valley sells to individuals, retailers, and wholesalers. You can set-up an account online or by phone by calling their (800) number.

Dutch Valley Bulk Foods sells all kinds of great things. For example, Gluten Free products, Organic products, Bulk Foods (dried foods, nuts), teas, coffee, baking needs, flours, spices, cereals, hot cereals, Bulk candies, Dried foods, nuts, cookbooks, canned foods, canned preserves, canned pickles, Clear Gel (gelatins), pie and cake mixes, gelatins for pies, chips, Dried soup mixes, etc.. Too many products to tell here! Their prices are great and shipping is reasonable and/or free--double check their website or call their (800) number.

If you are curious about pricing, PM me your list after checking out Dutch Valley's site; and I will sign on and check your prices or you can contact Dutch Valley. No costs to set-up online account and that way you can see current pricing, etc.

Website is below--

www.dutchvalleybulkfoods.com (Dutch Valley Bulk Foods' site/info.)

Feel free to PM me for further info.

Blessings--

Foodie (Katie)

[billig]

I follow the instructions in the Joy Of Cooking (the Bible of cooking, btw) for making unbaked frozen fruit pies.
I've made many with pie cherries (that's what we call tart cherries) by making the pie crust, preparing the filling as they say with tapioca as the thickener, then I freeze the pie in one of those tin pie pans from the pie restaurants.
When it's frozen (next day) I take it out of the pie tin, slip it into a freezer ziplock and keep it in the freezer.

When you want to bake one, you put the FROZEN pie into a pie pan (tin, glass, anything with sides).

Believe it or not, it takes hardly any more time to bake a frozen raw pie than it does to bake it freshly made. I can't figure that out, but it works.

Before I stick it in the oven, I brush cream or milk on the top and sprinkle with sugar for a crispy sweet pie crust.

It tastes like you just picked the cherries and made the pie.

[billig]

And I couldn't believe how much people loved it when I gave them as gifts (frozen in the ziploc bag!!) with the baking instructions!
I didn't give them a pie pan, the instructions told them to put it in a pie pan.
Then they can bake it whenever they want and they have a freshly home made pie.

[crabtree122202]

Thanks everyone for the help! I finally found a Natutal Food Store/Bakery that has both types for sale for a great price. It's only about 15 minutes away so that will work out for this batch of cherries atleast. But now I know that this product is something that is impossible to find in regular grocery stores and should be ordered online preseason! Our apples won't be ready for another month of so- then I can make apple pie filling as well!!!

Just to let you all know, we tried making cherry raisins- they are terrific! We cooked them for just a couple minutes in a medium syrup, then scooped them onto the fruit roll sheets in the dehydrator. They are so yummy with the perfect amount of sweetness from the glaze and just a little tartyness still.

[WillaD]

i have got a cherry and crabapple tree but i didn't think i could eat the
fruit,when i bought the cherry tree the tag said it was a flowering cherry
tree,so i didn't think it would have any cherries on it,that's been several
yrs ago,this yr it had cherries on it and i was so surprised to see them,i
got one cherry and tasted it and it wasn't sweet and the birds ate the
rest of them,would this one be the same as the tart cherry tree,are the
crabapples adible,i have never tasted one of them so i don't know if they
are sweet or not