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Gourmet's Cranberry Grappa Jelly

Posted by Robyn Lee, November 13, 2007 at 12:00 PM

"The grappa cranberry mold from the Italian menu is amazing. There isn't one person from the magazine not making that this year." —Ruth Reichl

Read our interview with Gourmet magazine's editor-in-chief Ruth Reichl about the magazine's approach to Thanksgiving this year for more of her recipe recommendations.

Cranberry Grappa Jelly

- makes 8 servings -
Adapted from the November 2007 issue of Gourmet Magazine

Active time: 30 min
Start to finish: 1 day (includes chilling)

Ingredients

1 1/4 pound fresh or frozen cranberries (4 1/2 cups)
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups cold water, divided
1 cup grappa, divided
2 (1/4-ounce) envelopes unflavored gelatin (4 1/2 teaspoons)

Equipment
A 3-cup nonreactive decorative mold

Procedure

1. Bring cranberries, sugar, 1 1/2 cups water, and 3/4 cup grappa to a boil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then briskly simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until most of berries have burst and mixture is thickened, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain through a large fine-mesh sieve into a 2-quart measuring cup or a bowl, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. (You will need 2 1/2 cups liquid.)

2. Stir together gelatin and remaining 1/4 cup water and let stand 1 minute to soften. Bring 1 cup drained cranberry liquid to a simmer in a small saucepan, then add gelatin mixture and stir until just dissolved. Add gelatin mixture and remaining 1/2 cup grappa to remaining 1 1/2 cups cranberry liquid and stir well. Pour cranberry sauce into lightly oiled mold and chill, covered with plastic wrap, until firmly set, at least 12 hours.

3. To unmold, dip mold in a large bowl of warm water (water should reach halfway up mold) for 5 seconds, then run tip of a thin knife around edge of mold. Tilt mold sideways and tap side against a counter, turning it, to evenly break seal and loosen jelly. Keeping mold tilted, put a plate over mold, then invert jelly onto plate.

Cook's notes: Cranberry jelly can be chilled in mold up to 2 days . Cranberry jelly can be unmolded 1 hour ahead and chilled or kept at room temperature.

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