Fruit Butter

Fruit Butter

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen Show: Paula's Home Cooking Episode: Picnic in the Park

1 c sugar 1 c water 2 c desired fruit (fresh, frozen or dried)

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, bring the sugar and water to a boil to make simple syrup. Add your favorite fruit and cook over medium-low heat until the desired thickness, 30 minutes to 1 hour. Use immediately or follow USDA guidelines for proper canning.

Tips on Sterilizing Jars

Properly-handled sterilized equipment will keep canned foods in good condition for years. Sterilizing jars is the first step of preserving foods.

Sterilizing Tips:

Jars should be made from glass and free of any chips or cracks. Preserving or canning jars are topped with a glass, plastic, or metal lid, which has a rubber seal. Two piece lids are best for canning, as they vacuum seal when processed.

To sterilize jars, before filling with jams, pickles, or preserves, wash jars and lids with hot, soapy water. Rinse well and arrange jars and lids open sides up, without touching, on a tray. Leave in a preheated 175 F oven for 25 min. Or, boil the jars and lids in a large saucepan, covered with water, for 15 min.

Use tongs when handling the hot sterilized jars, to move them from either boiling water or the oven. Be sure the tongs are sterilized too, by dipping the ends in boiling water for a few minutes.

As a rule, hot preserves go into hot jars and cold preserves go into cold jars. All items used in the process of making jams, jellies, and preserves must be clean. This includes any towels used, and especially your hands.

After the jars are sterilized, you can preserve the food. It is important to follow any canning and processing instructions included in the recipe and refer to USDA guidelines about the sterilization of canned products.

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