Candied Apple Jelly: Toast Topper #45 #SundaySupper

The best things in life are often the simplest. A sunny Summer day out in the backyard, a letter from a penpal and spending time re-living your childhood vicariously through the little ones around you are treasures that don't require fuss and bother to be special, and in fact are cheapened by pomp and circumstance. I am much happier with a good song coming on the radio at the right time than schlepping out to an expensive concert, or watching the kids at school make their crafts rather than staring at canvasses in a gallery. While fancy and complex has it's place in life (I mean, would you really just want a "simple" rocket design or brain surgery?), generally the less stuff you throw in the more honest and familiar it is.

The same thing translates to food. Now, I'm more than guilty of adding 10+ ingredients to a recipe, even if they are only spices, and it's something I do often as a matter of course. I use a multitude of ingredients both for taste and nutrition in my more "decadent" recipes, but I understand at the same time that mom's chocolate chip cookies, a mayo-tomato sandwich or my grandpa's cheesy scrambled eggs are irreplaceable and cannot be gussied up without losing their integrity. For dietary restrictions, sadly, a lot of the simple classics require more items and enhancements to create passable mock-ups, but the goal of a simple, clean flavour never changes.

It's simplicity - specifically, 5 ingredients and less - that is behind this week's #SundaySupper roundup. Being one to elaborate on the spartan, this was looking to be a challenge for me until it hit me - look in my mom's recipe box. There are a ton of recipes in that black metal cube that have at least less than 8 ingredients, and considering for today water, salt, pepper, and oil are counted as "freebies" most of her cherished, hand-written cards were fair game.

It so happened that this Sunday corresponded with the end of a jar of homemade jam, which never bodes well with a loaf of fresh bread kicking around the house! Mom's "preserves" section of the box was relatively paltry though, since she was never one to make jam or jelly at home. Of the 4 condiments she had, one caught my eye because it was so unlike my mom yet at the same time totally spoke of her penchant for simple, quick and people-pleasing food. Using candy along with the apple juice, sugar and pectin was a twist I didn't expect (especially since she doesn't like candy at all), but after finding countless versions of this so called "Candy Apple Jelly"online I became convinced that it could work. I have no idea how long the original idea to cook cinnamon hearts in juice before jelling the works has been around, and based on what I had on hand I did have to make some changes (using no-sugar-needed pectin and subsequently less added sugar, not to mention cooking and straining Hot Tamales candy instead of the suspiciously absent-from-the-store cinnamon hearts). Even with my changes, the jelly remained essentially the same flavour-wise - not to mention still under 5 ingredients!

This week's roundup is being hosted by Alice of Hip Foodie Mom. Thanks Alice! Check out what all our other #SundaySupper contributors are sharing below.

Appetizers, Salads and Starters

• Chicken and Spring Greens Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette from Crazy Foodie Stunts
• Tuna, Burrata and Black Olive Salad from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Salmon and Cucumber “Noodle” Salad from girlichef
• Yogurt Dill Vegetable Dip from Melanie Makes
• Tomato, Avocado, and Cucumber Summer Salad from My Healthy Eating Habits
• Fennel Citrus Salad from An Appealing Plan
• Kale-Had-a-Hard-Day Salad from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Guacamole Deviled Eggs from Ruffles and Truffles
• Tomato Soup from Run DMT
• Wasabi Cream Cheese Ham Salad from Neighborfood
• Latkes with Smoked Salmon and Caviar from Confessions of a Culinary Diva

Side and Accompaniments

• Candied Apple Jelly from What Smells So Good?
• Homemade Ricotta from Seduction in the Kitchen
• Indian-style Roasted Cauliflower from kimchi MOM
• 3-Ingredient Beer Bread from Take A Bite Out of Boca

Main Dishes

• Grilled Steak with Garlic Cumin Rub from Cooking Chat
• Smoked Turkey Panini with Roasted Red Peppers and Basil Pesto from La Bella Vita
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast from Nosh My Way
• Easy Crock Pot Pulled Chicken from Flour On My Face
• Lemon Basil Carbonara from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Garlic Butter Shrimp from Savvy Eats
• Easy Beef Stroganoff from Hot Momma’s Kitchen Chaos
• Smothered Pork Chop Cups from Having Fun Saving
• Salsa Verde Chicken Enchiladas from Supper for a Steal
• Chicken with Olives from Noshing With The Nolands
• Salmon with Tiger Dill Sauce from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Greek Chicken Burgers from Country Girl In The Village
• Potato Pancakes (Reibekuchen) from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
• Crock Pot Beer Chicken from Our Table for Seven
• Chorizo and Potato Frittata from Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Chicken and Potato Bake with Meyer Lemons from Cravings of a Lunatic
• Chicken Asparagus Roll-ups from The Dinner-Mom
• Spaghetti Squash with Simple Red Sauce from Momma’s Meals
• Tropical Salsa Chicken from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
• Strawberry Red Wine Glazed Salmon from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Baked Asparagus and Eggs from Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
• Grilled Caprese Salad Sandwich from Rants From My Crazy Kitchen
• Beef Short Rib Bourguignon from Food Lust People Love
• Beans and Egg Sandwich from Basic N Delicious
• Honey Almond Salmon from Family Foodie
• BBQ Foiled Chicken from Meal Diva

Dessert and Beverages

• Flourless Chocolate Cake from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
• 4-Ingredient Butterscotch Peanut Butter Marshmallow Sweets from Shockingly Delicious
• Vanilla Bean Honey Ice Cream from The Foodie Army Wife
• Coconut Crusted Chocolate Ganache Pie from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• 3-Ingredient Nutella Truffles from URBAN BAKES
• Chocolate & Peanut Butter Squares from Killer Bunnies, Inc
• Nutella Ferrero Cupcakes from Brunch with Joy
• 5-Minute Strawberry Sherbet from The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Best Ever Coconut Macaroons from Hip Foodie Mom
• Chocolate Orange Ice Cream from Gluten Free Crumbley
• Orchid Panna Cotta from Manu’s Menu
• Oreo Cookies and Cream Fudge from Alida’s Kitchen
• Golden Oreo Rice Krispies Treats from Pies and Plots
• Vanilla Pudding from Magnolia Days
• Sopapilla Cheesecake Bites from The Weekend Gourmet
• Coconut Cream Mango Mousse from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Peanut Butter Buckeyes from Peanut Butter and Peppers
• 4 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cherry Chip Cookies from Ninja Baking
• Raspberry Pina Colada Ice Cream from Try Anything Once Culinary
• Avocado Milkshakes from The Texan New Yorker
• The Ginger Sass Cocktail from Nik Snacks
• Baked Custard Cups from Soni’s Food

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Candied Apple Jelly
Makes about 5 half pints, 80 tbsp
4 cups unsweetened apple juice
2/3 cup Hot Tamales candy
2 1/2 cups sugar
1 (1 3/4 ounce) package no-sugar-needed pectin

1. Bring juice, candies and sugar to a boil in a saucepan and simmer 15 minutes, until candy mostly dissolves. 
2. Strain out remaining candy and return mixture to pot.
3. Whisk in pectin, return to a full boil and cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes.
4. Process for 5 minutes in boiling water bath.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 34.3
Total Fat: 0.0 g
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Sodium: 0.8 mg
Total Carbs: 8.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 0.0 g
Protein: 0.0 g