Out of This World Apple Preserves

The lemon keeps this sweet, chunky jam fresh-tasting.  It reminds me of apple pie or applesauce.  It's really just perfect, and seriously out of this world good!

I made mine with Honey Crisp Apples, but you can use any kind. 

6 c. chopped, peeled & cored apples
1 c. water
1 T. lemon juice
1 package pectin
4 c. sugar
1/2 c. thinly sliced lemon
2 t. nutmeg

Combine apples, water, and lemon juice in a large non-reactive pot.  Cover and simmer 10 minutes.  Add in 1 package of pectin.  Stir and bring to a boil.  Add sugar and lemon.  Stir until sugar is dissolved.  Bring to a boil.  Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg.

Ladle into prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space.  Process 10 minutes in hot water bath.  Makes 6-7 half pints.

New to canning?  You CAN do it!  Ball makes it really easy -- go here to learn more.

Favorite Things: Mrs. Wages Seasoning Mixes

It's no secret around these parts that I have really jumped into canning these past couple of years. I love preserving produce from our garden and making tasty treats for my family: spiced peaches, salsas, pizza sauces, applesauce, pickles ... and, of course, jams! Jessica's Pantry at the store is filled with a wide variety of my jams. But it's my basement shelves that see the true bounty. 

My not-so-secret weapon for preserving a flavorful harvest: Mrs. Wages seasoning mixes.  The easy-to-follow directions and flavorful seasonings take a lot of time and guesswork out of making fantastic canned goods.  Directions for immediate eating or preservation by refrigeration-only, freezing or canning are all provided on the package.  For the beginner like me, Mrs. Wages seasonings make things easier as you grow accustomed to the canning and preserving process. 

So far, I we have tried Mrs Wages Pizza Sauce, Medium Salsa, Spiced Peaches, and Refrigerator Pickles and my family has loved each!  I am a huge fan of the pizza sauce and made sure to can two batches this year since we ran out last year and I was bummed.

You can find the seasonings at your local grocer (for me, that's Meijers), right along with the plethora of canning products available this time of year.  Or, you can shop Mrs Wages online store.  Prices seem pretty comparable - especially when you consider shipping costs.  (Though if you go here and scroll to the bottom they do have some specials going on.)

Enjoy and happy harvesting (and preserving!).