Fig Preserves

A simple recipe for homemade fig and lemon preserves.

Recipe Ingredients:

10 pounds figs
1/4 cup baking soda
5 pounds granulated sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
Lemon slices (optional)
1 quart water

Cooking Directions:

1. Wash figs in warm water with baking soda. Rinse well. Cut off stems.
2. Combine sugar, lemon juice and water in large, heavy pot and bring to a boil. Carefully drop figs into boiling syrup. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until figs are clear looking and syrup is thick, about 2 to 3 hours.
3. Add lemon slices 1/2 hour before figs are done.
4. Immediately pour into hot, sterilized jars, leaving 1/3-inch head space. Adjust caps. Process 15 minutes in boiling water bath.

Makes 10 pints.