Recipe Request--Peach or Pear Jam

(makes about 3 cups)

--2 cups finely chopped, pitted, peeled peaches OR 2 cups finely chopped, cored, peeled, fully ripe pears
--1 tbsp lemon juice
--1/2 tsp butter
--1 tsp cinnamon
--1/2 tsp allspice
--half of a 1.75 oz. package of regular powdered fruit pectin
--2.5 cups granulated sugar


1. Add first 5 ingredients to a large saucepan (preferably stainless steel) and whisk together until well blended. Whisk in pectin until dissolved. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring frequently. Pour in the sugar and allow to come to a full rolling boil again and boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.

2. Fill clean 8 ounce mason jars with the hot jam and allow to cool. Put the lids on and refrigerate. (If you would like to keep the jam for a long period of time, you'll need to learn how to sterilize your jars and heat process your jam to preserve it. We eat ours within a few weeks, so I don't worry about this process when I make jam for our house.)

**See how easy making jam is. It's an uncomplicated process, but it tastes so much better than store-brought. You'll enjoy the burst of fresh fruit in your mouth that store-bought won't give you.