Blue Ribbon Habanero Apricot Jam Recipes

HABANERO APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Pit and chop apricots; place in a Dutch oven. Stir in lemon juice. Place habaneros in a blender; add a small amount of apricot mixture. Cover and process until smooth. Return to the pan. , Stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar; return to a full rolling boil. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly., Remove from the heat; skim off foam. Carefully ladle hot mixture into hot sterilized half-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Wipe rims and adjust lids. Process for 5 minutes in a boiling-water canner. , For best results, let processed jam stand at room temperature for 2 weeks to set up.

HABANERO PINEAPPLE JAM

Steps:

• Drain pineapple well, reserving 1/2 cup pineapple juice.
• Inspect 8 half-pint jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water. Place jars and lids on a rack in a large pot of boiling water; sterilize for about 5 minutes. Remove jars from water and place on kitchen towel or wooden board.
• Mix sugar, apple cider vinegar, and salt together in an 8-quart pot and cook over medium heat to dissolve the sugar. Bring to a boil and add the pineapple, reserved pineapple juice, minced bell pepper, habanero peppers, and carrots. Bring back to a rapid boil for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Add powdered pectin, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing well after each addition. Let jam boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and ladle into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch at the top. Wipe off any spillage around the rims of the jars using a damp paper towel.
• Screw on tops and rings. Place the sealed jars back in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove jars from boiling water and place on kitchen towel or wooden board. Allow to cool completely, 12 to 24 hours. Listen for a "pop" as jars cool and seal.

DRIED APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Soak apricots in boiling water in a bowl until hydrated, about 30 minutes. Blend apricots, remaining water, and vanilla extract in a food processor, working in batches, until blended but still slightly chunky.
• Combine apricot mixture with pectin in a large pot over medium heat; cook until just boiling. Add sugar and lemon juice; boil until sugar has dissolved, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Sterilize jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the apricot jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4-inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool, about 1 hour. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

BLUE RIBBON HABANERO APRICOT JAM

Steps:

• Pit and chop apricots; place in a Dutch oven or soup kettle. Stir in lemon juice.
• Place habaneros in a blender; add a small amount of apricot mixture. Cover and process until smooth. Return to the pan.
• Stir in pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil.
• Quickly stir in sugar. Return to a full rolling boil; boil and stir for 1 minute.
• Pour hot mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-in headspace. Adjust caps.
• Process for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath.
• For best results, let processed jam stand at room temperature for 2 weeks to set up.
• Makes 11 half-pints.

HABANERO APRICOT JELLY

Steps:

• Using a food processor, finely mince the diced apricots.
• Place the apricots in a large stainless steel stockpot, add the vinegar and cover. Let the apricots soak in the vinegar for at least 4 hours (can be left to sit overnight if you'd like, but 4 hours will do the trick).
• Using a food processor, finely mince the red bell pepper and habanero peppers.
• Place the apricots, vinegar, peppers, and sugar in a large stainless steel stockpot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to make sure all the sugar dissolves.
• Once the mixture has reached a full rolling boil (a boil you can not stir down), it will double in size. Stirring constantly, keep at a full boil for one minute.
• Remove from heat and whisk in pectin and continue to stir for 3 minutes - this helps to evenly distribute the apricot and pepper pieces throughout the jelly.
• Ladle the jelly into sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4" headspace. Wipe the rims of the jars with damp paper towels to remove any jelly which got on the rims or the threads. Place the lids and the bands on the jars, just tightening the bands fingertip tight.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes, then remove and let sit, undisturbed, for at least 12 hours before checking seals. It is important to let them sit undisturbed for 12 hours because the sealing compound on the lids is still cooling and hardening, completing the seal. While the jars cool, you will hear a "plink" type sound from each jar - this is the jars completing the vacuum seal as the final air escapes the jar. After 12 hours have passed, remove the bands and check the lids - press down in the center of the lid. If you cannot push the lid down any further, the jar is sealed. If the lid "gives" a bit, and you can push it down, the jar did not seal. You can either put the band back on the jar, and reprocess it for another 5 minutes, or you can just put it in the fridge and use it within 3 months.