you're a peach

happy Labor Day everyone!

this morning, my love and I learned how to make peach jam

...all while singing, "we're jammin'" by Bob Marley, of course

We don't have much space in our freezer, so this recipe for peach preserves allows you to keep it on your shelf OR in the freezer.  I am in love. This weekend, we visited the nearest farmer's market, which is one of my favorite things about fall season. We ended up coming home with a large bucket of fresh peaches, amazing tomatoes, onions, watermelon, and bread. With all those peaches come some of my favorite recipes: peach cobbler, peaches and cream, peach ice cream, and lastly peach JAM.

P e a c h   J a m

Makes 8 cups. (When I made it, it yielded a little more- I filled up ten 8 oz. mason jars) 

Ingredients:

12 fresh peaches, pitted and chopped

4 1/2 c. white sugar

1 (2 oz) package dry pectin (4 Tbsp.)

Directions

1. Crush 1 cup chopped peaches in the bottom of a large saucepan. Add remaining peaches, and set pan over medium-low heat. Bring to a low boil, and cook for about 20 minutes or until peaches become liquid. (I ended up wishing I would've chopped the peaches into smaller pieces from the start, because we had to do it ourselves with a fork after they had boiled.)

       before boiling                                           after boiling

2. Pour peaches into a bowl, and then measure 6 cups back into the pan. Add sugar, and bring to a boil over medium heat. 

Gradually stir in dry pectin, and boil for 1 minute.

3. Remove from heat after 1 minute, and transfer to sterilized jars. Put the jars that are filled with the jam back into a boiling pot of water for 10 minutes.

 

4. Let cool, and place on shelf or in the freezer.

The thing I love about jam is that not only is it delicious, but the small jars make the cutest gifts: Christmas, Mother's Day, Halloween, or just because... 

I have these chalkboard labels I got from World Market. I thought they looked adorable with the jam jars. I added a peach ribbon tied in a bow, and there you have it! Cutest jam on the block. :)

xo

meg