Ingredients
-
4 lbs italian plums (do not use soft over ripe plums, it gives the jam a plastic flavor, use firm plums)
-
3/4 cup water
-
1/4 cup lemon juice (fresh or frozen, I like Minute Maid Frozen Lemon Juice)
-
3 1/2 cups sugar (the original recipe called for 4 cups, but I thought it was way too sweet. I wouldn't recommend usin)
-
1/2 cup orange liqueur (I use Cointreau)
-
1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- JELLY:
- Rinse, drain and pit plums.
- Cook the plums and water at a fast simmer for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. I use my biggest, shallowest pan that will hold the plums and water and allow for stirring, you want evaporation to take place.
- The plums will become very soft and begin to fall apart.
- Press the plums and liquid through a coarse food mill.
- Combine plums, lemon juice and sugar in a large pan (like a dutch oven) or preserving pan.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter, this helps reduce foaming.
- Stir over medium high heat until sugar is dissolved.
- Cook jam at a brisk boil (spooning off any foam that arises) until it passes the jelly test, about 10 - 11 minutes.
- Add liqueur and cook 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- CANNING:
- Wash jars and screw rings.
- Fill electric fry pan 2/3 full with water and bring to a boil.
- Put jars in water, upside down along with sealing lids.
- Jars should heat at least 10 minutes, and sealing lids at least 3 and should be covered by water.
- Ladle jam into jars filing to 1/4 from very top.
- Wipe rim with boiling water using a paper towel.
- Put on sealing lid and screw on ring.
- Turn jar upside down.
- Finish all jars.
- Turn jars right side up.
- Cover jars with a towel.
- Jars should seal in 5 - 30 minutes. If jars does NOT seal, use jam, do not store for any length of time.