A phone call came quite early on a recent morning. 7:30 usually means I have just stumbled out of bed and am eager to head toward the kitchen where Doug has the coffee ready. With my morning voice I answered it, always fearful that no good news comes by phone this early. What a pleasant surprise to hear from a friend of many years ago, but one whom I rarely visit, other than with the yearly Christmas card. Kay was quick to apologize for the time, but after a few greeting pleasantries, she got on to the meat of her message, one of panic. She had lost my Pepper Jelly recipe, the recipe she usually makes every Christmas as a gift to many of her friends.

“Pepper Jelly,” I repeat in my still gravely voice. “My gosh, Kay. I haven’t thought of pepper jelly in years, much less made it. I have no idea that I still have that recipe, but let me check on it and I’ll email you tonight.”

“No,” was her reply. “Not only do I want the recipe, I want to visit with you, so call me.” A good plan I thought, and we said our goodbyes, she heading for work and me heading for the much needed coffee.

I spent considerable time that day unsuccessfully searching for that pepper jelly recipe. Not too many years ago I had almost completed revising and organizing my recipes. But alas, like so many other of my great project ideas, it was never quite finished in perfect fashion. So many of my recipes still remained in a brown paper bag, tossed together no matter they be “candy” or “seafood.”

All day I pondered over how to tell Kay the news. She was prepared to make 24 jars of this jelly the next day, and she simply couldn’t remember how much vinegar to use. My next step was to think of others with whom I might have shared the recipe. I placed a call to another friend whom I have only recently reconnected with by phone. She has moved from Georgia to be close to her children, and we haven’t seen each other for years. The problem was Mimi was babysitting her grandchildren and wouldn’t be home for a couple of days, but she was sure she had the recipe.

Over the next couple of days my phone conversations with Mimi and Kay did not turn up the coveted recipe, but they did elicit so many wonderful memories and cherished moments from our past lives. How easy it has been to lose these as the years have gone by. Somehow it seems fitting here at Christmas to recover and regain so many of our past friendships.

Just over the last few days Doug and I have made a point to schedule a Christmas visit to see other friends with whom we risk the danger of becoming disconnected. I’m calling this my Pepper Jelly Christmas.

Oh, and by the way, the happy ending to this recipe drama is that I have found the recipe. I had filed it in “Condiments” not “Appetizers.” Quite revealing, don’t you think? Friends are definitely the Condiments of our lives and no better time to relish this than Christmas!

Pepper Jelly:

3 large green bell peppers, cored and seeded
12 little hot peppers (so many years ago, there weren’t as many varieties
of hot peppers available -- you can choose your desired heat)
1/3 cup water
2 cups cider vinegar
5 pounds of sugar (can you believe this???)
2 bottles of Certo
green food coloring
paraffin
12 half pint glass jars

Blend the water and all peppers in the blender. (If too little liquid, add a little of the vinegar) Pour through a strainer into a very large pot. Add sugar, vinegar, and strained pepper liquid, and bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes on low heat (Be very careful because it will boil over quickly). Add Certo. Bring to boil and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and skim off the top. Add coloring. Pour into glasses and cover with melted parafin.