Plum-Vanilla Preserves

Name: Plum-Vanilla Preserves
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT1H20M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H45M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT2H5M0.000S
Yield: 4 8-ounce jars
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds firm-ripe plums, cut into 1-inch pieces (with skin); 2 1/4 cups sugar; 2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise and halved crosswise; 4 small cinnamon sticks; 1 lemon; 1 1/2 pounds firm-ripe plumcots or apricots, cut into 1-inch pieces (with skin)

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Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 5 min

Prep: 1 hr 20 min
Cook: 45 min

Yield: 4 8-ounce jars

Level: Intermediate
Total: 2 hr 5 min

Prep: 1 hr 20 min
Cook: 45 min

Yield: 4 8-ounce jars

Ingredients

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1 1/2 pounds firm-ripe plums, cut into 1-inch pieces (with skin)

2 1/4 cups sugar

2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise and halved crosswise

4 small cinnamon sticks

1 lemon

1 1/2 pounds firm-ripe plumcots or apricots, cut into 1-inch pieces (with skin)

Directions

Start with our step-by-step canning how-to.
Put the plums, sugar, vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks in a large, wide saucepan. Squeeze the lemon juice through a strainer into the pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils, about 10 minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until a candy or deep-fry thermometer registers 220 degrees F, about 30 minutes. (To be sure that the mixture has reached the gel point, spoon some onto a chilled plate and put in the freezer until cool. The liquid should set; if not, continue to cook and retest after a few more minutes.) Remove the pan from the heat and let cool 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, sterilize four 8-ounce canning jars and lids.
Return the plum mixture to medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring, then add the plumcots. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the plumcots are tender, about 5 minutes. Discard the cinnamon sticks.
Fill the jars with the plum mixture, leaving 1/2 inch headspace, then seal and process.

Photograph by Charles Masters

Properly handled sterilized equipment will keep canned foods in good condition for one year. Making sure hands, equipment and surfaces in your canning area are clean is the first step in canning. Tips: Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with glass, plastic or metal lids that have a rubberlike seal. Two-piece metal lids are most common. To prepare jars before filling: Wash jars with hot, soapy water, rinse them well and arrange them open-side up, without touching, on a tray. To sterilize jars, boil them in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 10 minutes. Jars have to be sterilized only if the food to be preserved will be processed for less than 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath or pressure canner. To sterilize jars, boil them in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 10 minutes. Follow manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and preparing lids and bands. Use tongs or jar lifters to remove hot sterilized jars from the boiling water. Be sure the tongs are sterilized too: Dip the tong ends in boiling water for a few minutes before using them. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, preserves and pickles must be clean, including any towels and especially your hands. After the jars are prepared, you can preserve the food. It is important to follow any canning and processing instructions included in the recipe and refer to USDA guidelines about the sterilization of canned products. Find Information information on canning can be found at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website: http://nchfp.uga.edu/.

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine