Preserves Online: Peach Preserves

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Peach Preserves

Fresh peaches are delicious eaten on their own, sliced over cereals and ice cream or made into pies and cobblers. You can enjoy their sweet flavor year-round by making jam during the summer peach season. This recipe makes 7 cups or 7 (8-oz.) jars.Wash jars in hot soapy water and rinse. Place them on a rack in the sink and pour boiling water in and over each jar. Drain. Keep the jars hot by transferring them to a cookie tray and placing it in a 200-degree F oven.Place the peaches in a colander and rinse them under cool running water. Cut the peaches in half, then remove and discard the pits. Place the fruit in a food processor and process for 35 to 45 seconds until it is quite smooth.Measure the crushed peaches into a 6- or 8-qt. pot. Stir sugar and lemon juice into the fruit and mix well. Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly.Remove the jam from the heat and skim off and discard any foam using a metal spoon. Ladle the jam into a liquid measuring cup and fill the jars immediately to within 1/8 inch of the tops.