Strawberry Preserves

Total Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 24 hrs

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 quarts small strawberries
• 5 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup lemon juice

Recipe

• 1 wash and hull strawberries. combine strawberries and sugar in a large dutch oven; stir well, and let mixture stand 3-4 hours.
• 2 slowly bring strawberry mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar dissolves. stir in lemon juice. boil about 12 minutes or until berries are clear, stirring occasionally. remove from heat, and skim off foam with metal spoon.
• 3 carefully remove fruit from syrup with a slotted spoon, and place in a shallow pan. bring syrup to a boil; cook about 10 minutes or until syrup has thickened to desired consistency. pour syrup over fruit. cover loosely with paper towels, and let stand 12-24 hours in a cool place. shake pan occasionally (do not stir) so berries will absorb syrup and remain plump. skim off foam with metal spoon.
• 4 heat mixture in dutch oven, and ladle hot preserves into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space; wipe jar rims. cover at once with metal lids and screw on bands. process in boiling water bath 20 minutes.