It’s never to early or too late to get kids involved in canning. We preserve like crazy around here because it’s a valuable technique to know and because it’s makes winter so much more enjoyable. To open a jar of freshly canned peaches or perfectly stewed applesauce is a winter treat that’s hard to beat. As the years have passed our kids have graduated in jobs that they can complete safely. But, when they were small they could peel apples and pears with peelers, pit cherries and wash jars. Now they are able to use knives and start learning how to jar and process the summer’s bounty.

We did:

40+ Quarts of Peaches

27 jars of Peach Raspberry Marmalade

35 Quarts of Pears

Now its onto the beautiful grapes that have froze once, therefore will be perfect jam!

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One Batch = 16 cups = (12) 10-12 ounce jars

In a large stock pot or turkey roaster combine:

20 fresh ripe peaches

2 cartons fresh or 1 bag frozen raspberries

Juice and zest of 8 oranges

Juice of one lemon

6 cups organic sugar (adjust for your own taste, this is low sugar)

Use a masher to combine all these ingredients. I use Pomodoro Brand pectin because it thickens with a calcium activator rather than based on the sugar added. Whatever you use, read the directions and add enough pectin to ensure it sets properly. This recipe has become a famous combination and has the nickname “Killer Jam” instead of Raspberry Orange Marmalade. Happy Canning!

This link has all you need to know about canning, how to do it safely and every detail in between.

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/index.html

Enjoy the Harvest