½tspunsalted butter (optional, but helps with texture)
Instructions
Start with the peaches: any with slight bruising are okay to use, but do cut out any dark brown bits. Rinse the peaches well, but don’t bother peeling them. Pit them, cut them into small pieces, and put them in a large heavy-bottomed pot. (I used my favorite 4 qt pot, which was perfect for the task.) Add the sugar and lemon juice, then stir well, cover with a clean tea towel, and let stand for 1 to 2 hours to bring the juice out of the berries. (You can actually let them stand, covered, in the refrigerator overnight, if you need to.)
Meanwhile, prepare one more jar than you’ll think you need. Make sure your jars are sparkling clean. Wash the lids in warm sudsy water, then rinse and set aside with the bands. Put a saucer or small plate in your freezer to chill (this will be for testing doneness.) Have an extra small jar, or custard cup, clean and ready for any excess.
COOKING TIME
After the fruit macerates with the sugar and lemon juice for hours, there will be plenty of juice in the pan. Add a tiny pat of butter, then bring to a boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to low, then simmer until the fruit is translucent and cooked through. The smaller the pieces are, the faster this goes. When the fruit is all soft and tender, remove the pot from the heat, whiz the fruit mixture with an immersion blender to make it as smooth as you like.
Return the preserves to the heat, and continue cooking, stirring often, until it bubbles and looks quite thick. I like to test for doneness by putting a spoonful on a saucer, and chilling it in the refrigerator for 2 minutes. After that time, if I can drag my finger through the jam, and leave a clear track that doesn’t fill in again, it’s ready. In my kitchen, this took about 10 minutes more.
When the jam is ready, remove the pot from the heat. Ladle jam into prepared jars, wipe rims, and apply lids and bands. Anything that won’t fit in your four jars can go into the clean custard cup and chill it in the fridge.
Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath or steam canner. Cool jars, label, and store in a dark cool place.