10 Easy Steps to Delicious Canned Peaches

10 Easy Steps to Delicious Canned Peaches

Supplies

Fresh peaches, form but not hard or mushy

Two large pot

Sugar

Pre-washed and sterilized 1 quart jars and lids (about 11-12)

Funnel

Water bath canner with lifting rack

Fresh Fruit Powder (Citric Acid & Vitamin C) OR Lemon juice

Step 1

Inspect your peaches and make sure they are firm, but not hard or mushy. If they are hard, you can put the peaches in a brown paper bag for a day or two and they will soften up.

Step 2

Prepare your syrup for the jars. In one of the large pots, for light syrup, combine 2 cups sugar and six cups water. Add sugar slowly, stirring constantly to dissolve. Bring to a gentle boil and keep it simmering. For Medium syrup, use 3 cups sugar and 6 cups water. For heavy syrup, use 4 cups sugar and 6 cups of water.

Step 3

Wash the peaches in water in the sink and put into a colander.

Step 4

Bring another pot of water to a boil. Put peaches in the water for one minute. Remove from boiling water and put into a large bowl or pot of cold water and ice for several minutes. This will help make it very easy to peel the peaches.

Step 5

Peel the peaches and cut out any brown spots or mushy areas. Cut the peaches in half, quarters, or slices. Make sure to remove the pits and scoop out the red center where the pit was.

Step 6

Put peaches into a bowl. Sprinkle 1/4 cup Fruit Fresh Powder or 1/4 cup lemon juice. Stir peaches to coat.

Step 7

Put sliced peaches into boiling pot of syrup for about 5 minutes. This is called "The Hot Packed Method." Doing this will make the peaches less likely to float in the jars, will reduce bubbles, and will produce brighter colored fruit in the jar.

Step 8

Fill the sterilized jars with the peaches making sure to leave 1/2 inch space from the top. When the jar is filled, use a ladle to fill the jars with the prepared syrup. Make sure to leave 1/2 inch at the top. Next, tilt the jar slightly and run a table knife or rubber spatula between the peaches in the jar to release any trapped air bubbles.

Step 9

Screw the lids onto the jars. Make sure to screw them on tightly, evenly and firmly. Do not overtighten.

Step 10

Put jars into the water bath pot. Make sure the tops of the jars are covered with at least one inch of water. Process or boil jars for 20 minutes, but no more than 30 minutes.

After the jars have been processed for 20 minutes, lift the jars out of the water and let them cool overnight on hand towels on top of your counter. Once cool, check the jars to make sure the lids have been sucked down. To check, just press gently in the center with your finger. If it pops up and down, it is NOT sealed. If not sealed, replace with a new lid and reprocess the jar while it is still hot in the canner.

Canning Facts----It will take about 5 peaches to fill a one quart jar. About 7 1/2 pounds of peaches are needed to fill a canner of 7 quarts. A bushel weighs about 48 pounds and yields 16-24 quarts.

Strawberry Freezer Jam (Shiloh)

Strawberry Freezer Jam (makes 5 cups)

2 c. crushed strawberries
4 c. sugar

Mash fruit with a potato masher (or use a blender). Measure fruit into a bowl. Measure sugar into a separate bowl. Stir sugar into prepared fruit. Mix well and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Stir 1 box pectin and 3/4 c. water in small saucepan. (Pectin may start out lumpy.) Bring to a boil on high heat, stirring constantly. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Stir pectin mixture into fruit. Stir constantly untili sugar is completely dissolved and no longer grainy, about 3 minutes. (A few sugar crystals may remain.) Pour into prepared containers, leaving 1/2 inch space at top for expansion during freezing; cover. (Use 1 to 2 cup size containers that have tight lids. Make sure to wash and rinse plastic containers before filling.)

Let stand at room temperature 24 hours until set. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks. Otherwise, store in freezer for up to 1 year. Thaw in refrigerator.

Rolo Cookies (Shiloh)

Rolo Cookies
*I originally got this recipe from Tiffany H.

Cream:
1 c. butter, softened (Tiffany recommends real butter.)
1 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs

Sift:
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. cocoa
2 1/2 c. flour

40-48 Rolos

Combine sugar, butter and brown sugar. Add vanilla and eggs. Beat well. In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa and baking soda. Combine dry ingredients with sugar mixture. Unwrap the Rolos. Take about 1 Tbsp. of dough in your hand. Put Rolo in the center and form dough around it.

Chop 1 c. of nuts (almonds, pecans, etc.). Mix nuts with 1 c. sugar. Dip dough balls in nuts and sugar.

Cook at 375 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes. (Can take 4 oz. of bark chocolate-the white kind- and drizzle melted chocolate on top. Let dry.)

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake (LaRein M)

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake 1 cup flour ¾ cups sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup milk 2 tablespoons melted shortening or margarine 1 cup finely chopped nuts (optional) Measure flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt into bowl. Blend in milk, shortening and nuts. Pour into greased square 9x9x2 inch pan. (Batter should be brownie batter thick). Topping: 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup cocoa 1 ¾ cup hot water Stir brown sugar and cocoa together. Sprinkle over batter in pan. Pour hot water over all. Bake 45 minutes at 350º This makes a wonderful chocolate sauce on the bottom, with cake on top. Serves 9 Note: Can be doubled and served in 9x13 pan. I don't double the cocoa, in the topping and use 2 ½ cups water. Serve with whipped cream or cool whip. Best if served slightly warm. Yummy!

Chocolate Eclair (LaRein M)

CHOCOLATE ÉCLAIR 1-16 oz box graham crackers 2- 3-½ oz packages instant vanilla pudding mix 3 cups milk 1- 8 oz package cream cheese, softened 1-8 oz carton non-dairy whipped topping (Cool Whip) (I use a 12 oz carton and save some for the frosting) 1 3-½ oz package chocolate instant pudding for frosting Line 9x13 pan with one layer of graham crackers. Beat pudding with milk and cream cheese until stiff. Fold in whipped topping. Pour ½ of mixture over crackers. Place another layer of graham crackers on top and add remaining pudding mixture. Top with another layer of graham crackers. Follow directions on box of chocolate pudding for pie. I use the same mixer bowl I used for the vanilla pudding, and just mix very well. Add some whipped topping if you wish. Pour over the top of the last layer of graham crackers. Chill several hours or overnight. Try using all low fat ingredients. Delicious!! Experiment with different kinds of puddings… white chocolate, banana, etc. This is great to take to work or church parties.