Apricot And Brandy Jam

Total Time: 12 hrs 40 mins Preparation Time: 12 hrs Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried apricot halves, halved
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 orange (juice and grated peel)
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 tablespoons brandy or 3 tablespoons cognac

Recipe

• 1 combine apricots and water in a bowl, cover, and let stand overnight, or until soft and well plumped (about 12 hours).
• 2 combine apricots and their soaking water in saucepan with the orange peel and juice and simmer for 5 minutes.
• 3 add the sugar and bring to boil, while stirring.
• 4 boil gently, stirring often, until the mixture is thick and shiny and begins to clear the sides of the pan when stirred.
• 5 while mixture thickens, be sure to stir it continually but gently, so that the fruit does not burn or get squashed (about 30 minutes, but may vary).
• 6 do not allow the mixture to cook down to a puree; it should retain good-sized bits of apricot.
• 7 remove the preserve from heat and stir in almond extract and brandy.
• 8 ladle into 3 half-pint canning jars, prepared in usual manner and seal with sterilized 2 piece screw-on lids.
• 9 cool and let mellow several weeks or more before serving.