HOOK

Pour the flour mixture into the pot with the rest of the juice. Place the pot over medium heat and stir constantly with a wooden spoon. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil and let it simmer for 15 minutes until it thickens into a smooth syrup with a heavy pudding consistency. DIP AND DRY Let the hot grape mixture cool down for 10 minutes so it is safe to handle. Hold each walnut strand by the top loop and submerge it completely into the thick grape liquid. Use a spoon to help coat any bare spots. Lift the strand slowly and let the extra liq- uid drip back into the pot. Hang the coated strings in a clean, dry, and airy indoor spot with a tray under- neath to catch drips. Let them dry for 2 to 3 hours until the first layer is tacky. Dip the strands into the warm grape mix- ture a second (or third) time to build a thicker fruit layer (optional). Leave the coated strings to hang and dry completely for 3 to 5 days until they feel dry and firm on the outside but remain soft inside. INGREDIENTS 3 cups walnut halves (40 halves) 4 cups unsweetened grape juice (may substitute cherry or apricot) 3/4 cup all-purpose flour Needle & thread (clean cotton or linen thread, thin but durable, and a thick sewing needle) STRING THE NUTS Soften hard walnuts by soaking them in warm water for 15 minutes so they do not break when pierced. Thread the needle with a 12" piece of thread. Tie a knot at the bottom. Pierce through the center of 10 walnut To make Churchkhela, thread 40 walnut halves onto 4 clean 12" inch long threads using a large needle. Make a loop at the top of each thread. Boil natural and unsweetened grape juice with flour until thick and smooth, dip the nut strings repeatedly in this coating, and hang to dry for 3 to 5 days. HOOK 65 Pictured: Cherry, Apricot, & Grape halves, sliding them down until you have a strand of nuts about 10 " long. Tie a loop at the top of the thread so you can hold and hang the strand easily. Makes 4 strands. GRAPE MIXTURE (TATARA) Pour 3 cups grape juice into a pot. Whisk the flour into the remaining 1 cup of cold grape juice until completely smooth and free of lumps. ❤ ❤ ❤

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