peach jam ~and~ peach jelly

I was up to my elbows in peaches last night,

with some yummy results!

Have you noticed at the grocery,

that peaches are at their peak right now?

They were $0.98 a pound at my HEB grocery 

and then I found them the next day at my Wal-Mart for $0.67 a pound!

Between the two stores I purchased 6 pounds of peaches for $5.00.

What did 6 pounds of peaches make?

Well, first I peeled them, chopped them up

and made 14 jars of peach jam.

I used the recipe for peach jam

in my Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

But...I wasn't done after making the jam!

This is the coolest thing -

you can boil the peach peelings and pits

to make peach juice and then

turn that peach juice into peach jelly!

I used the directions I found here

and it worked like a charm!

10 jars of peach jelly!

Not bad for $5 worth of peaches and a few hours of work.

Are you wondering what exactly do you need to can jams and jellies?

First, you need a canner and rack.

I originally just bought a canning rack

thinking that if it didn't fit in my large pot, 

it would definitely fit in the largest stock pot

that I already had!

No!  Not big enough.  

I did use both of these pots during my jam making - 

the large stock pot to keep my jars hot

and my regular pot to make the jam in.
I returned the canning rack
and bought the canner and rack together as a set.

You also need your canning jars,

rims, and new lids.

(You have to use new lids every time, 

but the jars and rims/bands 

can be used over and over.)

I debated on buying this little set,

but ended up being so glad that I did.

It included a funnel that fits right in the jars, 

the jar tongs, 

a magnetic lid lifter (really handy!) 

and a combo bubble remover/head space ruler -

all priced less as a set than if bought individually.

And you need your ingredients for 

your chosen recipe.  

I needed peaches, lemons,

sugar,

and pectin - liquid was called for in this recipe.

After I canned the jam,

all I needed for the jelly

was the peach peelings and pits,

more sugar, a bit of butter

 and some powdered pectin.

With six pounds of peaches I made

two batches of jam

and two batches of jelly.

That's plenty for our family for a year

with several leftover for gifts.

~yummy!  summertime in a jar!~

Linked to Homestead Revival, Mom's Crazy Cooking, Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop #61