I did it, all by myself

As soon as I saw Gerardo this morning I went out with my pan and said mas guayaba por jelly. He grabbed the picker and we went in the back yard and I ended up with enough for two batches. I also asked for cinco naranja and dos limons. He got the oranges but he said the lemons would have to be later from the house by the river. Ours aren't ripe yet. Next was a trip to the Super Mercado to check for a bigger strainer and little containers and ham - finally and another bag of sugar. Now a stop at TIa's to borrow the blender. That is the only thing I don't have yet. I got a strainer and pot.

The lemons were delivered mid morning so I was set for the Orange Marmalade.

I was just dishing up the second batch of guayaba jelly when Gerardo asked permission to come in and asked me how the jelly was going. I showed him all the containers and I noticed there was a woman with him. He seemed to be showing her around La Quinta and I was on the tour. He got a knife to try one of the jars from the first batch and I got a perfecto! Ana was there also and they both complimented me on the jelly. They explained to the lady that I didn't speak much Spanish but I made wonderful chocolate treats and apparently now jelly. I put the lid on the container and gave it to Gerardo.

Once that was all done I thinly sliced 4 oranges and 2 lemons - by hand since my mandoline is still in the states and put it on to boil with 8 cups of water. Once it boils you add 8 cups of sugar. You cover it and let it set overnight. Tomorrow it will cook for 2 hours on low and 1/2 hour on medium. I really like orange marmalade and am looking forward to trying this. How bad can anything be with 8 cups of sugar!

You would think I had been making jelly most of my life. Nope, this was a first. I also want to make a loaf of Banana Nutella bread tomorrow while I still have some bananas. I can't wait to see what other fruit I can make into jelly!

In case you are wondering, guayaba jelly is great on chicken sandwiches and smoked pork chops. I know that from experience! 

My two batches plus one of the jars with the orange top that I gave Gerardo.

My new pot full of orange marmalade. This pot worked really great and didn't move around like the one I used the first time. It has rubber on the handles if I do need to hold it.