Canning Sliced Peaches Food

CANNING SLICED PEACHES

Steps:

• The first thing you will need to do is prepare the canning jars, lids, etc., and peel the peaches. Remove seed from peaches, then slice. Place all peach slices into a large bowl. Treat peaches with Fruit Fresh or lemon juice to prevent browning.
• Prepare and sterilize canning jars. I like to place them in my water bath canner filled half way with water (on the elevated rack), and let them simmer (NOT boil) while I am preparing the peaches. Have all your canning utensils, jar lids and rings prepared and ready to use, according to manufacturer instructions and standard USDA canning guidelines.
• Prepare syrup for peaches, by combining sugar and water in stainless steel saucepan. Stir, and bring mixture to a boil, on medium high heat. Stir often until sugar dissolves. Turn heat to Low; keep syrup warm, stirring occasionally, until ready to fill canning jars, stirring.
• Warm peach slices in large stainless steel pan (one single layer at a time) on medium-low heat. Cook ONLY until just heated through (about 1 minute), then repeat with remaining peaches. Remove peaches with a slotted spoon; pack peach slices into hot, prepared canning jars, being sure to leave 1/2 inch headspace in jar. Ladle warm syrup into jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
• Remove air bubbles from jars; adjust headspace, if necessary, by removing or adding syrup. Wipe rims of jars clean (to help jars seal properly), place flat lids on jars, then screw the bands on to fingertip tightness. Carefully lower jars (on rack) into simmering water in canner. Make sure the jars are covered completely with water (at least 1-2 inches over tops of jars). Cover. Bring water to a boil. Process pint jars for 20 minutes, and quart jars for 25 minutes.
• Once jars have been processed, turn off heat; remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then carefully remove hot jars with canning tongs to a dish towel (don't put the hot jars straight onto a counter top-this could cause jars to crack). Let jars cool (you should hear the jars "ping" as they seal) for 12-24 hours.
• Once the jars have sat, undisturbed, for 12-24 hours, check to make sure the jars have sealed correctly, then wipe down jars, label them, and store them in your pantry! I remove the screw bands for storing. Any jars that did not seal properly should be refrigerated, and used within a week. ENJOY!

DRUNKEN PEACHES (CANNING)

Steps:

• Bring the canner full of water to a boil. Cut an X on the bottom of each peach and blanch them in the canning water for 30 to 45 seconds, then drop them into ice water to chill. Slip the skins off when they are cool enough to handle.
• Make a syrup by heating the sugar and water together in a sauce pan, stirring to dissolve the sugar, and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Cut each peeled peach into quarters, remove the pits, and pack them into the warm pint jars, overlapping them to fit. I get seven peach quarters in each jar, plus one leftover quarter I can eat.
• Add 1/4 Cup brandy to each jar of peaches. Add hot syrup to each jar, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Move a knife around in each jar to release any bubbles, then top off with more syrup if necessary. You will probably have extra syrup, but save it for sweetening other products or fruit mixtures.
• Process filled jars in a boiling water bath for 25 minutes (sea level). Let the jars rest for at least a week to develop best flavor.