Sunchine Apricot Preserves
- 2 lbs fresh apricots
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- Wash apricots and cut fruit into halves or quarters, discard pits.
- Measure 4 cups of the fruit and combine with the sugar and lemon juice in a 4 or 5 quart saucepan; stir gently to mix.
- Cover and let stand at room temperature to 1 hour.
- Over medium heat, bring mixture to boiling, stirring constantly.
- Turn heat to high and boil vigorously, uncovered for 4 minutes without stirring.
- Remove from heat and let cool, uncovered for 30 minutes.
- Pour mixture into shallow glass or metal baking pans, roasting pans made of foil or rigid plastic trays so that the syrup around the fruit is at least 1/2 inch deep but no deeper that 3/4 inch.
- Cover with clear plastic film or a sheet of glass, leaving a 1-inch wide opening along one side.
- Place pan in direct sunlight.
- Gently stir mixture and turn fruit pieces over every hour.
- Remove preserves from sun when fruit is plump and syrup is thickened to about the consistency of corn syrup; the preserves thicken slightly more as they cool.
- It will take bout 2 to 10 hours, or more, depending on the heat of the sun.
- You may need to bring the preserves in at night and then return to the sun the following day.
- Serve at once or store as directed below.
- Refrigerated: Preserves will last about 4 weeks.
- Freeze: Pack into freezer containers to within 1 inch of ttop, seal and freeze.
- Can: Fill half-pint jars.
- Seal and process in water bath for 10 minutes.
- Variations:.
- PEACH OR NECTARINE: Cut peaches or nectarines into 1/2 inch thick slices; discard pits.
- Increase lemon juice to 1/4 cup.
- BERRIES: Use whole berrie and foloow the Apricot recipe.
fresh apricots, sugar, lemon juice
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/sunchine-apricot-preserves-383324 (may not work)