Ostruzione della Pesca - Peach Jam

One thing I remember well from Nana's Italian-American kitchen is that she did a lot of preserving. This is something I taught myself to do last year and it has become something I thoroughly enjoy. I love opening the pantry and browsing jars of foods I did myself from homegrown or farmers market produce. Here is a recipe for peach jam that I made a last month from peaches from our daughters garden.

Ingredients Needed:
4 cups peeled, pitted and crushed yellow peaches (3 1/2 to 4 pounds)
1/4 cup strained fresh lemon juice
7 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon unsalted butter
1 (3 ounce) pouch liquid pectin


In an 8 quart pan, combine the peaches and lemon juice. Stir in about half the sugar. Cover the pan and let stand for 20 minutes.

Remove the cover. Stir in the remaining sugar and the butter. Over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, heat the mixture until the sugar is completely dissolved. Increase the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat. Skim off any foam.

Return to the pan to the heat and bring the mixture to a full rolling boil. stir in the entire contents of the pectin pouch. Return the mixture to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove the pan form the heat. Skim off any foam.

To prevent the jam from separating in the jars, allow the jam to cool 5 minutes before filling the jars. Gently stir the jam every minute or so to distribute the fruit. Ladle the hot jam into hot jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rims and threads with a clean, damp cloth. Cover with hot lids and apply screw rings. Process half-pint jars in a 200 degree F (93 C) water bath for 10 minutes, pint jars 15 minutes.

NOTE: When preparing peaches, cut the fruit in quarters and remove the red fibers from the center before crushing the fruit. The fibers can be tough and stringy when cooked, and the red streaks in the jam can detract from its appearance. This makes about 8 half-pint jars.