If I remember correctly, last week I promised to share the recipe for my delicious peach vanilla jam which I boasted about in my April In My Kitchen post. I almost feel a little embarrassed calling this a recipe, because it really couldn’t be much easier. In fact it is a perfect start for any novice jam maker and to make it even simpler, the gorgeous people at Ball Products have given me one of their fabulous Deluxe Home Preserving Starter Kits to offer as a prize to one lucky reader this week – more about that later.
A couple of weeks back one of my lovely neighbours gave me a big bag of her late peaches – too many for us to get through. They were small and modest-looking cling-stones, but packed a powerful flavour punch. I’d never made peach vanilla jam before so figured it was time to give it a try.
I’m dead lazy, so peeling a bag of peaches was never going to happen for me and – guess what – you really don’t need to. Just give the fruit a good wash under a running tap and dry with a clean tea towel. Most of the fuzz will rub off and whatever is left just seems to vanish while cooking.
This peach vanilla jam is so quick that you could have it cooked in the time it takes to whip up a batch of scones to put it on. No kidding!
Peach Vanilla Jam
Ingredients
- 1 kilo sliced unpeeled cling stone peaches, stones removed.
- 500 gms CSR jam setting sugar
- 2 vanilla pods
Instructions
- Place unpeeled fruit in food processor and chop very roughly, place in medium/large saucepan.
- Scrape the seeds from 2 vanilla pods. Add to fruit with the sugar, mix it all well and set aside for 30 minutes for the ingredients to get acquainted.
- Put pan over medium heat and bring to boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat, but keep to a slow boil, stirring regularly for 20 - 30 minutes.
- Test jam for set - is set if a small amount placed on a cold (freezer cold) saucer wrinkles around the edges and doesn't run.
- Place into sterile, hot jars, seal and label.
Now for the wonderful prize!
Ball Products Deluxe Home Preserving Starter Kit
Ball Products have given me ONE of their Deluxe Home Preserving Starter Kit, valued at $139.99 for one of my readers to win. Ball® Deluxe Home Preserving Starter Kit offers a complete set for any preserver and comes with the Stainless Steel Waterbath Preserving Pot, Ball® Jars and essential preserving tools. The premium quality pot and preserving rack are ideal for larger batch sizes, but can also preserve small batch sizes depending on your recipe. The large pot can be used for other alternative kitchen creations, such as soups, stews and lobster.
Includes:
Stainless Steel Waterbath Preserving Pot with Glass Lid – 21-quart capacity is large enough to hold up to 7 quart (32 oz) jars and features:
Triple layer base of thick aluminum fused between stainless steel provides even and efficient heat distribution. Compatible with all variety of stovetops.
Silicone covered handles ensure safe, cool and easy handling.
Tempered glass lid with steam vents ensures easy viewing.
Preserving Rack – fits both large and small jars
6 Ball® Pint (16 oz) Jars with Lids & Bands – ideal for preserving foods & tested for superior quality and sealing performance
Essential Utensil Set – handle and fill hot jars, measure headspace and remove air bubbles safely and easily.
To enter to win this fab prize, simply head over to Ball Products Australia Facebook page and “Like” them, then leave a comment on this page telling me what you love preserving.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. This competition is open to Australian residents only.
2. The competition opens today, 17 April 2015 and closes on Friday 1 May 2015.
3. To enter, simply ‘Like’ Ball Products Australia Facebook page and then leave a comment on this page telling me what you would love to preserve. Both tasks are mandatory and must be completed to enter the competition – and I will check.
4. Make sure you record your entry to be counted.
5. I have 1 Ball® Deluxe Home Preserving Starter Kit to give away.
6. One lucky winner will be drawn at random.
7. The winner will be notified by email and their name will be posted here. The winner must reply within 48 hours or the prize will be redrawn.
I think that too much white sugar is being used in my household and I would love to preserve jams using grape juice.
I checked – I already like Ball. They’re like an old family friend. When I moved to Australia I couldn’t believe it was impossible to find them and now I see the name popping up here and there.
When you said I didn’t need to spend ages peeling peaches, I fell in love with you just a little bit more. I can’t wait to make this jam so I hope I win. 🙂
Send scones.
I have not tried preserving as of yet, but recently a friend of mine in the US sent me some home made strawberry jam, it was amazing. This would be the start of a wonderful new experience
I’ve loved preserving food since I began to do so as an earnest young married in the alternative, self-sufficient seventies. What a warm glow resulted from a peep into a pantry (now, I have a cellar!) chock-full of jars, big and small, filled with produce you’ve grown yourself, been given by others or scrumped from public places where it’s going to waste. Most of all, however, I love marmalades and jellies; friends fight for the latter!
I subscribe to the Ball Products email. I asked them where I could get Ball Canning & Bottling outfit in Australia & they replied that it was available through Woolworths. have not been able to find it in either Woolworths or Big W.
Will like them on Facebook just to be in the running for this but if I don’t win it I would like to know where I can buy one of these kits.
I want to make my mother’s lovely dill beans, thanks!
Your peach jam sounds wonderful, but I have a feijoa tree that deserves some time in the limelight, so feijoas it is.
Deborah – please check your email for my reply to this query.
Oooh I’ve just found a new hobby to get into. Having just moved I am nearly organised and I would love to experiment with preserving foods, in particular (to begin with) delicious jams and chutney. I miss my Nanna’s chutney so much and have her recipe kept safely in my recipe book of faves. Now I a good time to finally experiment 🙂
I really like home grown peaches! They seem to have so much more flavour than commercial varieties! 😀
I would love to have a go at preserving the excess produce from my summer Vege patch, perhaps chilli sauce or zucchini pickles or the much used tomato paste. I have also liked the Ball Products Australia facebook page. Thanks for the chance to win 🙂
Gorgeous recipe and what a fabulous preserving kit! Congratulations to the lucky reader who wins! xo
I love preserving, but only have old jam and pickle jars. My dream is to have a pantry full of preserved fruits, vegetables, jams, pickles and chutneys using my newly planted herb garden. Dreams ….
Mmmm… What a delicious recipe. I made a vow in recent weeks, to get back into cooking, baking and preserving. Never made peach jam before, I should. I will. I’ll get cracking, good gifts for Christmas in July. 🙂 Haha… This comment is rather wishy washy. Sorry! Hope you’ve had a great weekend.
Liked? No, loved!! I have several citrus and various stone fruit trees. I’d love to be able to preserve my fruits, and hopefully get to them before the rosellas do! last summer it was rhubarb and strawberry jam, only two jars, but absolutely delicious!
Peaches, pears, apples and plums,
If I didn’t preserve them, ‘twould be really dumb,
Lined up in my pantry,
They look so neat,
And all are ready
When I want a sweet treat.
I’m not going to be Poet Laureate any time soon, but I do hope that a more creative approach might perhaps win me my first ever ‘proper’ preserving kit. 🙂
I love preserving quinces, the only fruit I seem to be able to grow with any success. Having just harvested my first lot of (many, disappointingly golf ball-size) peaches that must be the same type as the ones used here (Golden Queen), I’m certainly saving this idea for next year!
I have a gooseberry bush that produced easily 100 little fruits over Summer. They were a bit boring by themselves and everyone I’ve told since has exclaimed “you should have made gooseberry jam!”. Okay, next Summer I will as I hated seeing them go to waste.
What a lovely looking jam stash. I am quite jealous! I could really go some peach and vanilla jam squished on top of a scone, right now. I’m with you on the peach peeling front … life is too short!
Trying to preserve my sanity at the best of times…but seriously, would be nice to be able to try and preserve fermented vegies as a dear friend of mine does brilliantly
I made home grown peach jam this summer but took it as far as I could before the spitting, seething mass was just too much! Made an amazing thick paste which is incredible with cheese.
And the winner is ….
Peggy Bright!! Peggy, please check your email.
Oh my goodness, I never win anything and now I’ve won something wonderful AND useful. Thanks so very much. It’s going to get a workout this weeken. Sorry it took so long to comment, but as a new winner it took me a while to figure out that I should look at the comments. 🙂