Peach Preserves

Here is one way I'm preserving tastes of summer 2010


Peach Preserves
About 10 large firm but ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
6 cups sugar

Combine the fruit and sugar in a 4 quart pot.  Cover and let stand in a cool spot for 18 to 24 hours.  After standing, bring pot to boil, stirring frequently.  Bring slowly to 200 degrees F and continue simmering for approximately 40 minutes.  Continue stirring frequently.  The fruit softens and becomes more opaque.  The syrup thicks.  Skim off foam if necessary.  Or add a t. butter to help keep the foan down. 


Immediately fill hot, sterilized half-pint jars with preserves leaving 1/4 inch head space.  Wipe jar tops and threads clean.  Place hot lids on jars and screw bands on firmly.  Process in boiling water canner for 5 minutes.  Yield 6 half pints.


I had a little more which went into a bowl and into my frig.  It will sweeten my morning yogurt for a while.


Remember to enjoy yourself.

Quite a Scream

I might have mentioned that there are a few peaches in my house right now and we are eating and preserving them. So, I’m peeling and slicing a peach and all of a sudden an Earwig comes out of the stem where it was picked and is sitting on the half-peeled peach. I let out a scream and nearly drop the peach.


Now, I’m not afraid of bugs. Earwigs, certainly not. I’m 51 years old. I do not scream. It was just a surprise. Fortunately, Husband and Step Son did not hear. I would have heard about it the rest of the day and a while longer than that.

With the knife, I flick the Earwig into sink, turn on the water. Into the garbage disposal you go, little bug. This is what you deserve for making me scream. What were you even thinking?

Remember to be unafraid.

Pick the Peaches

I’ve done some pretty serious peach peeling recently. We’ve eaten a lot of them and made peach preserves out of the rest.


When I was in my early teens, I stayed with my grandparents in the summer quite a bit. The farm across the road from my grandparents farm was owned by the McGee family. My grandfather liked old man McGee and he liked my grandfather. They did many trades. One summer my grandfather said that Old Man McGee had given him permission to pick a few of his peaches. My grandfather explained very carefully that I am never to pick a farmer’s crop without permission. A farmer’s crop is money and picking it without permission is like stealing. But with permission, it was okay.

We got up in the morning and went out to the road to get the morning paper for Grandma. We reached across the fence, picked a couple peaches, and took them back to Grandma. She pour a bowl of Wheaties for each of us, the carefully slice the peaches over top. The sugar bowl was placed on the table along with the milk and we were allowed a bowl of Wheaties, peaches, sugar, and milk. Total bliss.