Cheery Cherry PreserveS
The beautiful cherry trees we anxiously wait to see blossom like frothy pink ballerina tutus around the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC, signal the beginning of spring. Their delicate flowers represent new beginnings, the fleeting nature and fragility of life, and hope for a future of abundance.
The fruit which follows the blossoms is the sweet reality of life’s abundance. It’s also a signal to start baking cherry crisp or pies or bread, or to start jamming.
This recipe for Cheery Cherry Preserves is a sweet treat to greet spring, summer or fall. It’s easy to make with one caveat - be sure to have a cherry pitter close at hand or involve a small child in the “adventure.” The pitting process will be much quicker.
This recipe is a “no canning” process. Preserves will last 3 to 4 weeks when refrigerated.
Ingredients:
4 cups tart cherries - rinsed and pitted
1 pkg. Sure-Jell fruit pectin - regular
½ teaspoon butter
4-½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest
Directions: (Based on Sure-Jell directions)
Rinse, stem and pit cherries. Chop into small pieces. Measure 4 cups of fruit into a large 8-quart pot.
Add package of pectin into cherries and stir. Add butter to reduce foaming. Stir.
Heat fruit mixture to a full rolling boil on high heat, stirring constantly. (Boil should continue even if not stirring.)
Stir in sugar and return to full rolling boil. Stir continuously and boil exactly 1 minute.
Add almond extract and lemon zest and stir.
Remove from heat after the 1-minute boil, skim off any foam, and allow to cool slightly.
Ladle preserves into jars and cool before closing with jam jar lids. After preserves have cooled, label with contents and date and place in refrigerator.
Serving: Delicious on toast or cracker with cream cheese. Also a great topping for vanilla ice cream. Add a maraschino cherry on top!
Tie a ribbon around the jar and Cheery Cherry Preserves make a perfect hostess gift or a sweet thought to gift a friend.
Cherries in bowl with pitter and jars
Cherry Jam on crackers
Cherry pitter with cherries