CHERRY ALMOND PRESERVES

Cherry Almond Preserves image

This recipe came from my mother-in-law. It's very old-fashioned-in fact, the friend who gave it to her used to cook it up on an old wood stove. With all the cherry orchards here in Bitterroot Valley, I make two batches of these preserves each summer. (I get the cherries from a nearby cannery by the gallons!) My family likes them on fresh bread, muffins, pancakes and even ice cream-the consistency's similar to a topping. I have to be careful, though, and ration the jars out or they'd be the first thing to disappear from the root cellar! Both my husband and I serve as 4-H leaders. We have three children-girls 16 and 14 and a son who's 12.

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield 11 half-pints.

Number Of Ingredients 5

Ingredients

8 cups pitted sour cherries (about 4 pounds)
1-1/2 cups water
10 cups sugar
2 pouches (3 ounces each) liquid fruit pectin
1 teaspoon almond extract

Steps:

In a stockpot, bring cherries and water to a boil; boil 15 minutes. , Stir in sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Boil 4 minutes. Stir in pectin. Continue to boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. , Remove from heat; skim off foam. Stir in extract. Ladle hot mixture into 11 hot half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 10 minutes. Remove jars and cool.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 106 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 2mg sodium, Carbohydrate 27g carbohydrate (26g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.