Homemade Peach Plum Jelly Food

PEACH-AND-PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Pit peaches and plums and coarsely chop into pieces slightly smaller than 1/2 inch. Combine fruit, sugar, water, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and salt in a heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil (do not stir) until mixture begins to thicken, about 18 minutes.
• Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is thickened and jamlike, about 30 minutes. Add more lemon juice to taste, then let cool completely.

STONE FRUIT JAM

Steps:

• Toss fruit and sugar together in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Let sit for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight, tossing periodically to coat and to dissolve the sugar. (This will help coax the juices out of the fruit.)
• Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. (You'll use this later.)
• Bring the fruit to a strong simmer over medium heat until the skins burst and the juices start to boil, 10 to 15 minutes. If using a vanilla bean as an add-in, put it in the pot now.
• Increase the heat to medium-high. Cook the jam, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon or spatula at first and more frequently as juices thicken until most of the liquid has evaporated and the fruit has begun to break down, about 25 to 35 minutes. How much it breaks down will depend on the type of fruit and how ripe it is. (For example, peaches are likely to retain their shape, while plums and apricots will break down almost entirely.)
• As the jam cooks, the liquid reduces, the sugars thicken and the natural pectins activate. You'll notice the liquid go from a rapid, rolling boil with smaller bubbles to a slow, thick, tarlike boil with larger bubbles. This is the stage at which it's most important to stir constantly along the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching and sticking. (Sugar is heavier than water and will concentrate there, increasing the chance that the fruit will burn.) It's also the stage at which splattering may occur, so take care in stirring.
• When the jam reaches a slow, thick boil, add lemon juice and any of the add-ins (see note). Continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam has returned to its previously thickened state, about another 5 minutes. To test the consistency, spoon a bit of jam onto the chilled plate, return it to the refrigerator and chill for 2 minutes. Drag your finger through it: It should hold its shape on either side without appearing watery or runny. If it's not there yet, cook it a few minutes more.
• Remove from heat, and pick out vanilla bean, if you added it earlier. Divide between jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top of the jar, and seal immediately. Can the jams (see our How to Make Jam guide for more instruction), or store in the refrigerator, using them up within a couple of weeks.

HOMEMADE PEACH-PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• To prepare the juice: Wash apples. Do not peel or core. Cutapples into wedges. Repeat with peaches and plums (removing the center stone).
• Add fruit and water to a large pot. Cover and bring to aboil. Reduce heat and simmer until fruit is soft. Let cool slightly.
• Strain juice through a damp jelly bag or layers ofcheesecloth. Do not be tempted to squeeze the bag of fruit, as this will makethe juice (and jelly) cloudy.
• To make the jelly: Measure the juice. You should have aboutthree cups of juice.
• Pour juice into a large pot. Add sugar.
• Stir to dissolve sugar.
• Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.
• Cook and stir until jelly has set; usually at 8 degreesabove boiling water temperature or about 220 degrees.
• Remove pot from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle jelly into sterilized jars leaving ¼ inch head space.
• Top with two-piece caps and process in a a water bath cannerfor 5 minutes.

PEACH PLUM JAM

Steps:

• 1. Prepare waterbath canner by placing clean jars on rack and fill pot and jars with hot water till it just barely covers the jars, then bring to a boil. Once the water begins to boil turn temperature down to simmer and drop in rings and lids.
• 2. Chop peaches and plums.
• 3. In an 8 large pot combine chopped peaches, plums and juice or water. Gradually stir in pectin. Bring mixture to a full rolling boil that can not be stirred down, over high heat, stirring constantly.
• 4. Add sugar. Boil hard for 1 minute stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.
• 5. Remove jars from canner and empty out water. Place jars on a folded towel.
• 6. Ladle hot jam into hot jars, one at a time leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars. Apply bands and adjust to fingertip tight.
• 7. Place filled jars in canner making sure jars are covered by at least 1 to 2 inches of water. Place lid on canner. Bring to water to gentle, steady boil. Process for 10 minutes. Turn off heat and let set for an additional 5 minutes.
• 8. Remove jars and place on a folded towel and let cool undisturbed for 24 hours. Check to see if lids are popped down before storing. If they aren't store in fridge.

PEACH-PLUM JAM

Steps:

• Stir together fruit, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mashing fruit with a potato masher. Add lemon juice; continue to boil, stirring frequently, until bubbles slow, chunks of fruit show at top, and mixture clings to a spoon but falls off in clumps, 10 to 12 minutes. Skim foam from top.
• Ladle jam into clean containers, leaving 3/4 inch of headroom. Let cool completely. Cover, label, and refrigerate up to 1 month, or freeze up to 1 year.

PLUM JAM

Steps:

• In large non-aluminum kettle, combine plums, water, and lemon juice. Bring mixture to boiling over high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, 10 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally. Mixture should have reduced to about 4 1/2 cups.
• Add sugar and heat mixture to full, rapid boiling over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in pectin; return to full, rapid boiling and boil exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Set aside 1 minute and skim off any foam that has formed.
• Meanwhile, sterilize 8 half-pint jars or jelly glasses and the necessary lids, and bands, according to manufacturer's directions. Divide jam among sterilized jars, leaving 1/8-inch space at top of jar. Wipe rims of jars to remove any jam and seal with lids and bands.
• Process jars in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove jars, label, and store in cool, dry place

PEACH JELLY

Steps:

• Combine juice and pectin in a large saucepot.
• Bring to a boil.
• Stir in sugar and return to a rolling boil.
• Boil hard 3 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat.
• Skim foam if necessary.
• Ladle hot jelly into hot, sterile jars; 1/4" head.
• Process 5 minutes in boiling water canner.
• About 8 half pints.

PEACH-PLUM SUMMER JAM

Steps:

• When selecting fruit, eyeball the quantities; you will want to end up with 4 cups of peeled and processed fruit, so the quantity of whole fruits may vary depending on size. If the fruit isn't perfectly ripe, let sit on counter for a day or two before peeling.
• Peel fruit by dropping whole fruits into boiling water for a minute or two, then plunge fruits into sink or a large bowl filled with ice water. When cool enough to handle, use a small paring knife to score bottom with a small shallow "x" and the skins should slip right off. Halve fruits and remove pits.
• Mash or process fruits to desired consistency and stir in ginger and pectin. Place fruit puree in a 4- to 6-quart pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to prevent burning. Cook for about 2 minutes, then dump in sugar and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and ladle into sterilized 1/2-pint jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Process in hot water bath canner for 10 minutes or let cool and store in freezer.

SURE.JELL PEACH JELLY

Steps:

• Bring boiling-water canner, half full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot soapy water; rinse with warm water. Pour boiling water over flat lids in saucepan off the heat. Let stand in hot water until ready to use. Drain well before filling.
• Pit unpeeled peaches. Finely chop or grind fruit. Place in saucepot; add water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 min., stirring occasionally. Place 3 layers of damp cheesecloth or jelly bag in large bowl. Pour prepared fruit into cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth closed; hang and let drip into bowl until dripping stops. Press gently. Measure exactly 3-1/2 cups juice into 6- or 8-qt. saucepot. (If necessary, add up to 1/2 cup water to get exact measure.)
• Stir pectin into prepared fruit in saucepot. Add butter to reduce foaming. Bring to full rolling boil (a boil that doesn't stop bubbling when stirred) on high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Return to full rolling boil and boil exactly 1 min., stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off any foam with metal spoon.
• Ladle immediately into prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of tops. Wipe jar rims and threads. Cover with 2-piece lids. Screw bands tightly. Place jars on elevated rack in canner. Lower rack into canner. (Water must cover jars by 1 to 2 inches. Add boiling water, if necessary.) Cover; bring water to gentle boil. Process 5 min. Remove jars and place upright on towel to cool completely. After jars cool, check seals by pressing middle of lid with finger. (If lid springs back, lid is not sealed and refrigeration is necessary.)

PLUM JELLY

Steps:

• Combine plums, sugar, and water in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Lower heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until mixture has thickened to desired consistency, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, inspect five 8-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jelly is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Remove jelly from the heat and skim off any heavy foam. Ladle hot jelly into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/2 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw rings on finger-tight.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 15 minutes. Remove jars from water bath and tighten rings.
• Place jars on a towel to cool until lids pop. Press lids to confirm the seal.