Spiced Nectarine Whiskey Preserves Food

SPICED NECTARINE WHISKEY PRESERVES

Steps:

• 1. In a small saucepan, add water, sugar, and nectarines. Cook covering on medium heat until nectarines are very soft.
• 2. Pour into a blender and give a quick blend so that there are pieces of fruit vaguely present. Pour back into sauce pan.
• 3. Add the rest of the ingredients, save the Knox's. Continue to cook on low, stirring occasionally. Only cook for as long is your preference for the strength of whiskey.
• 4. Turn heat up to a boil. This may cause bubbling and spitting, use caution.
• 5. Whisk in the Knox's Gelatin until totally dissolved. Remove from heat.
• 6. Pour into sterilized jam jars and follow waterbath canning process. This should render about 2-3 small jars. You can multiply this recipe to whatever about of jars you would like to make.
• 7. In the picture, I poured entire contents into a jar the size of about a spaghetti jar and didn't use canning process. We used it in about a week and a half without consequence.

LOW-SUGAR NECTARINE PRESERVES

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Wash and dice nectarines, discarding pits. Add to a heavy, non-reactive pot. Add a small amount of water to the bottom, and place pot over medium-high heat.
• Bring to a boil, stirring to prevent scorching. The fruit will give off quite a bit of liquid. Boil for a few minutes, until fruit begins to look translucent. Add sugar, and stir to blend completely.
• Return to a boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until jam reaches the set point. Add lemon juice and stir to combine.
• Pack jam into clean half-pint jars. Seal and process for 10 minutes in a water bath canner.

SPICED NECTARINE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter 9-inch-diameter springform pan. Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add 3/4 cup sugar and beat until blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then lemon juice and lemon peel. Beat in flour until smooth. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
• Arrange enough nectarine slices atop batter in concentric circles to cover completely; press lightly to adhere. Mix cinnamon and remaining 3 tablespoons sugar in small bowl. Sprinkle over cake.
• Bake until cake is golden brown and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour (50 minutes for plums or pluots). Cut around cake to loosen; remove pan sides. Serve cake slightly warm or at room temperature.

NECTARINE JAM

Steps:

• Inspect 5 half-pint jars for cracks and rings for rust; discard any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until jam is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Measure finely chopped, peeled nectarines; you should have 4 1/2 cups. Add to a heavy pot and immediately mix with lemon juice so they don't turn brown.
• Combine 1/4 cup sugar and fruit pectin in a bowl. Add to nectarines in the pot and stir well. Slowly bring mixture to a full rolling boil that does not stop bubbling when stirred. Add remaining 2 3/4 cups sugar and stir to dissolve, making sure to scrape over the bottom of the pot. Boil for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly.
• Remove from heat and stir in almond extract.
• Pack nectarine jam into the prepared jars, filling to within 1/4 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 spills. Top with lids and tightly screw on rings.
• 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 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart. Let rest for 24 hours without moving the jars. Gently press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

NECTARINE JAM

Steps:

• Cook all ingredients at a very mild boil for 30-minutes.
• *At this point you can add optional spices of your choice such as 1 teaspoons cinnamon, almond extract, or ground ginger, or 1 tblsp. brandy extract; or any favorite combination. Cook for 5 minutes more.
• Skim foam off surface.
• Ladle into sterilized jars.
• Process in boiling water bath for 10-mins.

SPICED NECTARINE SAUCE

Steps:

• If you'd rather, peel the nectarines; I like having the peel in there.
• Melt butter in small saucepan over medium high heat.
• Dissolve brown sugar in the melted butter, then add the cubed nectarines and the rest of the spices.
• When mixture starts to simmer, turn heat down to low.
• Simmer in order to achieve desired consistency and allow flavors to blend. You will want this to be chunky, with some textural variation--chunks of fruit in a thick, medium-brown sauce. This may take 5-10 minutes. Remove pods before serving (? I'm actually not sure if you can eat them).
• Serve warm with vanilla ice cream, or cool and refrigerate.
• My note: this was excellent with hot multigrain cereal! I cooked the cereal first and then added the sauce, about 1:1, stirred it in and warmed it up along with the cereal for a few minutes on low/simmer. Yummy!

GREEK NECTARINE PRESERVES

Steps:

• Peel and seed nectarines; cut into chunks.
• Boil in water until soft; add sugar; stir and watch to prevent burning.
• Cook 30 minutes.
• Last 5 minutes add brandy, vanilla, and lemon juice
• Pour in hot sterile jars;seal.