I hear root beer jelly is good, too, for kids.
I am wondering if this carrot jelly is a recipe from Sure Jell or not.
Vegetable based jellies need added acid to keep them safe to preserve. I am not sure if the Koolaid would have enough acid or not in it.
I looked on the Sure Jell site, but did not find this particular recipe.
I know sugar also works as a preservative in full sugar jellies and jam, but still, the ones like zucchini jams, hot pepper jellies, etc. have bottled lemon juice or vinegar in them along with all the sugar.
Wish I could say for certain about the safety of this right now.

Careful when kids are making jelly. As it boils and bubbles, a nasty burn can occur.

I put the juice of one lemon in it...not necessarily for the preserving aspect but I thought it might need it for taste. I like the "brightness" that a little lemon brings to it. I'll see if I can find where this recipe came from.

LOL, Linda Lou, you probably remember that my great-nephew Dylan won a blue ribbon at the county fair two years ago for that root beer jelly. The Judges were intrigued. (grin) The year before he won a ribbon too, for sweet cherry jam, but the root beer jelly is the one everyone remembers in the family.

He also really likes to make apple butter, but he's 13 now, so is on his own much more. Makayla is 5, and she's ready to make strawberry jam to go with the bread she makes, she's already figured out how to use the bread machine!

Dylan's brother, Noah, wants to try the kool-aid pickles this year, I think.

Annie

Suggest that you also try a more natural acid mix, like an acid blend. Its 33% citric, malic, and tarteric and is used to increase acidity for wines. You can find it at wine making supply stores. It has no real flavor, but does improve most any jelly or jam by increasing acidity. I even add it to fruit drinks as it has been very helpful in reducing aftertaste from things like Splenda. Adding to jams and jellies that are noty swetetended with sugar tends ot cause faster spoilage. The addition of a bit more acid will reduce the issue of moldy sugar free jams. I use Crystal Light, add unflavored gelatin and its a nice fruit Jello made with any flavor of Crystal Light.

Yes, Annie, I do remember Dylan winning the ribbon. Goodness, you have been gone for so long around here !
Hope you are well and happy.
I am so busy teaching classes right now. Getting ready to leave in a few minutes for one.
I would not have thought about teaching Gabe to use the bread machine. Will have to tell my daughter that. He likes to cook. He will be 5 in a few months. Where did time go ???
We also have a "jam camp" where kids can go to a local berry farm and make freezer jam and bread in a bag. They take their jam with them and the bread dough in a pan to bake once they get home.
Nice to hear from you, Annie !!!

I was just going to ask where you are and teach Linda Lou and then I thought to look at your ID...

My list friend said she got the recipe from a friend of her's years ago and doesn't have a clue about where it might have originated from.

Thanks everyone for all the advice ...Believe it or not...my husband and I both love this jelly. My friend just made another batch and added pineapple to the mix...How good that must be.

Jam camp sounds terrific. I'll bet those kids have the time of their lives.

Kids are often more capable than they are given credit for. It's so important for them to have activities more advanced than what they have done before. I'm sure jam camp does that.

Jim

LindaLou, I was thinking about your little angel too.

I've been absent because I got married in May last year, Dad passed away in August, Stepdad in September, my Uncle marty in October. The farm had a mortgage, I ended up buying a big chunk of it from stepmom so she didn't lose the place. With Dad gone, the farm is pretty much all my responsiblity so between the paperwork that goes with his death, and the paperwork that goes with buying the farm and the paperwork that goes with getting married and changing my name, and fencing and having a farm auction and, well, it's been a long several months. We finally got the headstone marker from the Veteran's Association and buried Dad's ashes last week, so I'm thinking I might actually have things enough under control that I can take a breath.

We even missed the Fair last year!

Definitely teach Gabe to use the bread machine, he'll love it. Makayla used it the first time and then looked at me an announced "I NEED one of these". LOL Other kids need an Easy Bake oven, she needs a Zojirushi and a KitchenAid mixer!

Annie

I think it is just this sort of thing that teaches kids to love it....if not immediately...then later on. My Mother gave me a package of poppy seed one spring and helped me make a flower bed.....what she did was make me a gardener...