I haven't made preserves before so please bare with me while I experiment with this recipe for Apple preserves. When complete these preserves should have a healthy Apple and Cranberry flavour with a light syrup of Vanilla, Brandy, and Grand Marnier. I've collected photos during my preparations, including steps with each picture.
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| 4 cups of dried apple slices, adding dried cranberries to fill the gaps in the measuring cup. |
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| In a large pot mix 8 cups of water with 2 cups of sugar, bring to a boil. This will serve as the syrup base. |
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| slice in half 2 limes. |
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| use a reamer to extract the juice. |
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| slice lengthwise a vanilla bean, and harvest the seeds. Chop the remains of the vanilla bean in to quarters, this will be added to the syrup as well. |
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| mix the vanilla seeds into the syrup |
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| When the syrup is cool, add in a half cup of brandy and grand marnier. |
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| Pour the syrup over the sliced dried apples and cranberries. |
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| It's important that you use a non-metallic bowl for the fruits so that the flavour isn't tinged with a metallic taste. |
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| Wrap the fruit & syrup mixture with plastic wrap, and let sit for 48 hours. |
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| Sterilize preserve jars, then pour in fruit & syrup mixture. |
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| Add lid to jar finger tight, then boil to ensure a sterile container. |
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| The preserves are ready to enjoy! |
I've taste tested the preserves on pound cake, and vanilla ice cream - it really goes well with either of them however I think next time I use Apples I'll have to slice them into smaller portions to make them easier to pick up with a fork or spoon.
I like this recipe, so those whom know me personally, perhaps you'll be seeing a jar of these Apple preserves come this December :)
