Spiced Ginger Peach Jam

By Foodiewife

I found this recipe on Food.com, titled "Grand Champion Peach Jam". I made a few minor tweaks, and was very happy with the result. Home canning is something I enjoy doing, and I find that people love home made jam as hostess or Christmas gifts. This jam has a lovely background of ginger, with a spice mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice. Clove can be added, but I find that it can easily steal the show from the peaches. This is delicious with homemade scones, over ice cream or even brushed onto the bottom of a pie crust, before adding fresh peaches.

Ingredients

• 8 cups freestone)peaches, pitted peeled(about 11 tennis ball sized)
• 1 small lemon, zested and set aside (you'll be using the juice and zest)
• Juice of one small lemon
• 1 box of pectin* (I use Sure-Jell)
• 7 cups sugar**
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated ginger root (I keep ginger root frozen)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves (optional, as it can be overpowering)
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 Tbsp vanilla (optional)
• Pomona Universal Pectin can be used, which requires less or no sugar
• If using Pomona Pectin, sugar can be decreased to 3-4 cups

Details

Preparation time 60mins
Cooking time 75mins
Adapted from foodiewife-kitchen.blogspot.com

Preparation

Step 1

Equipment needed/recommended:

Canning kit: includes pot with lid, canning rack, funnel, tongs
Canning jars, bands and lids, washed and sanitized (I set them in the water canning pot, while the water is coming to a boil, remove with tongs and set on a baking sheet with a towel

Large bowl of ice with water (for blanching the peaches)

For the peaches:
Wash the fruit and bring a large pot of water to a boil. With a paring knife, cut a small "x" on the bottom of each peach (I also cut an "x" on the top of each peach). When the water is boiling, gently place the peaches in the pot and cook for 2 minutes, max.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the peaches into an ice water bath and allow to sit for a few minutes. Using a paring knife (I use my fingers), pull on the skin at an "x" and the peels should come right off.

If adding the ginger and spices, prep those and set aside.

For the jam:
Mash (or use the pulse feature on a food processor) the peeled peaches, to yield 8 cups.

Add the prepared fruit into a large pot, and add the sugar. Bring to a gentle boil, and slowly add the pectin.
Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, ginger and spices (if using) and vanilla(or vanilla bean seeds).

Allow the jam to come to a rolling boil, can take about 10 minutes. TIP: I know when the jam has thickened enough when it coats the back of a spoon. I like to freeze a few spoons, to better test this theory.

Once the jam is thick, turn off the heat. Carefully spoon the jam into sterilized jars, leaving about 1/4" head space. Add a lid and band and tighten-- but don't over tighten.

I like to water can the filled jars, by placing them into a canning rack, and bring to a boil for about ten minutes. Remove, carefully, with tongs onto a baking sheet with a fresh towel.

Listen for the "ping" as each can self-seals.

Enjoy this jam with fresh scones or homemade bread. Delicious!