Peach, Honey and Mint Jam

Peach, Honey and Mint Jam
(using instagram to mask my inability to take a good picture)

A few weeks ago, we bought a half bushel of peaches from Wilklow Orchards. Lots and lots of peaches. We put up gingered peaches, peaches in honey syrup and we froze a few bags of sliced peaches. For the first time, I also made a jam. I made the Ginger Peach Jam from Sherri Brook Vinton’s “Put ‘em Up!” (This is my FAVORITE canning cookbook right now. All of the peach recipes I used were from her book. Seriously, if you can or want to can or are thinking of canning, buy this book!). For my first go at jam, it turned out pretty well.

I only made a handful of half-pints of the jam, so the next weekend, I bought a few more pounds of peaches. We had some mint from the market and Craig was kind of over the ginger, it was time for a different recipe. I had a specific idea in mind, but I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for. Using the guidelines for developing your own recipes in the Pomona’s Pectin package and the directions in Vinton’s book, we ended up with a yummy Peach, Honey and Mint Jam. Delicious on toast with Almond Butter!

Inspired by and adapted from Sherri Vinton's Ginger Peach Jam and Pomona's Pectin

6 cups peeled, pitted and chopped peaches (about 10-12 peaches)
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup water
1 ½ honey
½ cup mint
½ cup sugar
1 Tbl Pomona’s Pectin
1 Tbl calcium water (included with Pomona’s Pectin)

Mix the sugar and pectin in a small bowl. Set aside.

Bring the peaches, lemon juice, water and honey to a boil. With a potato masher, mash the peaches to a consistency of your liking. Stir in the sugar and pectin mixture and the mint. Return to a boil. Add calcium water and stir well. Remove from heat.

Ladle into jars and store in the fridge for three weeks.

If canning, use ½ pint jars, leave ¼ inch of headspace and process for 10 minutes.

**Obviously, these are not thorough canning instructions. If you have never canned before, I recommend taking a class – to avoid poisoning yourself and your loved ones with botulism, there are a number of precautions you should take.**

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