Apple Preserves

Total Time: 3 hrs Preparation Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• 3 lbs firm tart apples
• 2 1/2 cups cold water
• 3 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice, to taste

Recipe

• 1 wash, core, and peel the apples; cut them into eighths.
• 2 you should have about 2 pounds of chopped apples.
• 3 combine the water and sugar in a large saucepan; bring to a boil.
• 4 boil for 2 1/2-3 minutes; set aside to cool.
• 5 stir the apples and lemon juice into the cooled syrup; bring to a boil again and cook gently until the apples are clear and transparent.
• 6 you want to keep the apples in tact, so cook gently and shake the pan instead of stirring.
• 7 remove pan from heat and using a sterilized, slotted spoon, transfer the apples to hot,sterilized jars; make sure to leave a 1/2" headspace.
• 8 bring the syrup back to a boil and cook almost to the jellying point, 118*-120*f.
• 9 spoon the syrup over the apples, leaving 1/2" headspace.
• 10 allow the preserves to cool, then cover and refrigerate.
• 11 they will keep indefinitely.