Pickled Peaches

Even with all the resources at hand, the directions for our first venture into canning - pickled peaches - came from the Internet. I think we ended up making three batches of pickled peaches. 

The first had too much juice I thought.

The second I did in smaller jars - pint size - but because they were smaller, it was harder to get the fruit in without smushing it. It didn't look that pretty. 

So the third time around I went back to the quart size jar. This time the dilemma was that the fruit was a bear to pit. Those things would just not come out! So while I was doing all I could to preserve the fruit while getting the pit out, the syrup was just a simmering away. After I got it into the jars it proceeded to settle to the bottom and pretty much caramelize into a solid mass.  I was out of time, and peaches, though - so this would have to do. 

It must have been okay - I got a first place ribbon at the State Fair!*

Pickled Peaches

MAKES 2 QUARTS

INGREDIENTS

3½ cups sugar
1½ cups white vinegar
14-16 ripe medium peaches, peeled
8 whole cloves
2 sticks cinnamon
1" piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Bring a canning pot of water to a boil. Submerge 2 one-quart canning jars and their lids and ring bands in boiling water; sterilize equipment for 10 minutes. Remove from boiling water with tongs, draining jars, and transfer to a clean dish towel.

2. Combine sugar, vinegar, and 1½ cups water in a heavy medium-size pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Working in batches slide peaches into the pickling liquid and cook, turning once or twice, until peaches soften but before they turn fuzzy, 4–5 minute per batch. Transfer peaches to a bowl as done.

3. Divide cloves, cinnamon, and ginger between the 2 jars. Cut any peaches with brown spots into halves or quarters, discarding pits, and trim away the brown spots. Spoon peaches into the jars, filling the gaps with the halves and quarters and packing the jars as tightly as possible.

4. Return pickling liquid to a boil, then pour boiling liquid into each jar, covering peaches and filling jar to 1/4" from the rims. Let liquid settle in jars, then add more boiling liquid as necessary. Discard any remaining liquid. Wipe jar rims with a clean dish towel, place lids on jars, and screw on ring bands.

5. Transfer filled jars to a canning rack, submerge in a canning pot of gently boiling water (jars should be covered by at least 1" of water), and process for 10 minutes. Carefully lift jars from water with jar tongs and place on a dish towel at least 1" apart to let cool undisturbed for 24 hours. To test that jars have properly sealed, press on center of each lid. Remove your finger; if lid stays down, it's sealed. Refrigerate any jars of pickled peaches that aren't sealed; use within 4 weeks.



*judges comments: Really good peach flavor! Nice spicing, firm fruit. Nice product! (I'd cut peaches a little smaller, but that's me)