Mint Jelly - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
3 cups sugar
1/4 cup water
1 quart apple juice
green food coloring

Preparation

Wash mint and mince finely; add 2 tablespoons sugar and water and let stand for several hours or overnight.
Bring to boiling point; strain.
Combine remaining sugar and apple juice.
Cook for 20 minutes or until mixture reaches 220F on a candy thermometer (at sea level; reduce by two degrees for every 1000 feet in elevation).
Add food coloring and mint juice.
Pour into hot, sterilized jars and seal; process in boiling water bath for ten minutes.
**Variation-Use spearmint flavoring for apple jelly, if you don't have fresh mint.