You're a Peach :: Peach Preserves

I hadn't entirely planned to continue Peach Week past Friday of last week.  And then I got another flat of peaches last week and I kept making more stuff.  So a few more peach recipes are coming this week.  But why the heck not?  Peaches are amazing this year and totally worth making as much as you can out of them.

To see all of my peach recipes from the summer, click the peach picture on the right!

Peach Preserves
4 pounds peaches, peeled and roughly chopped (reserve pits)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water

Place 3 spoons on a plate in a flat spot of the freezer.

In a large flat bottom pan combine all ingredients and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Let bubble gently until mixture thickens - about thirty minutes.  Test the consistency of the preserves by scooping a small amount onto a frozen spoon.  Return spoon to freezer and let rest two minutes until spoon is neither hot or cold. If the peach mixture droops slightly when the spoon is tipped on it's side, the preserves are done.  If it's not, let mixture bubble another ten minutes and try again with a different frozen spoon.

Ladle hot mixture into clean, sterilized jars and seal.  Process in a hot water bath for 20 minutes.

I adore these preserves - as evidenced by the half empty jar and the completely empty plate just moments after I took the above photo.  Hopefully these last into the winter when a taste of summer peaches will be heavenly.  But if they don't, it will give me something to look forward to for next summer.

You can do this with nectarines too - I did over the weekend and you don't have to peel the nectarines!