Christmas Dried-Fruit Jam

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs tart apples cored wedges
• 6 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups dried figs chopped
• 1 1/2 cups dried apricots chopped
• 1 1/2 cups dried pears chopped
• 1 cup dried dates pitted chopped
• 1 cup dried prune pitted chopped
• 1/4 cup candied lemon peel
• 1/4 cup candied orange peel
• 1/4 cup candied cherry
• 1 orange juice and zest of finely grated
• 1 lemon juice and zest of finely grated
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon anise seed crushed
• 4 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds

Steps:

• Place apples in large pot with water
• simmer until soft
• In a large bowl
• add all the chopped amp; pitted fruit
• Press soft apples with a potato masher
• then spoon into a square of cheesecloth clipped to a footed colander
• suspended over the bowl of fruit
• Let apples drip over fruit WITHOUT squeezing or forcing--overnight
• Next morning add remaining ingredients EXCEPT for nuts to a large sauce-pot
• adding soaked fruit
• Stir
• then simmer gently until sugar dissolves; bring to a boil; boiling for five minutes
• Skim survace
• add nuts
• boil another five minutes until 200F sea level
• Remove pan from heat; spoon jam into hot jars
• add two-part lids; process in boiling water bath for 15 minutes sea level
• Label and store in cool
• dark cupboard
• GIFT GIVING Use pretty jars and add a decorative label -- include in a basket with other home-made kitchen gifts How nice of you
• USES As described above OR as a replacement for traditional with suet mincemeat