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Rose Petal Jam

(recipe, Diane Kochilas)

Ingredients

  1. ½ lb. unsprayed young pink rose petals
  2. 2 lb. sugar
  3. 1 cup water
  4. Juice of 2 lemons

Steps

  1. Place the petals, in batches, in a large sieve or colander and shake so that any excess dirt, pollen, and stamens fall out.
  2. Place the cleaned petals in a large basin and sprinkle with the sugar. (This may also have to be done in batches.) Knead them with the sugar, rubbing the petals vigorously with your fingertips, until they wilt and become a pulplike mass. Let stand for 2 hours.
  3. Place the rose-petal pulp in a stockpot or other large pot, add the water, and stir continuously over very low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sugar becomes a thick syrup. Just before removing from the heat, stir in the lemon juice.
  4. While the jam is simmering, bring eight 6-ounce jars to a boil to sterilize. Remove just before use. Place the jam in the jars and seal when cooled completely.