Chipotle Tomato Jam With a Hint of Basil

Rita~'s Note:

Top your next burger, meatloaf glaze ribs or chicken with this! Depending on how much water your tomatoes have will determine how long to cook.It is more a loose spread then a jam.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 50

Yield: 6.0 1/2 pints

• 5 lbs ripe tomatoes , score each for easy skin removal
• 6 chipotle chiles in adobo (minced and seeded if milder is desired)
• ½ cup lemon juice , bottled
• 4 cups granulated sugar
• 2 cups white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon pickling salt
• 6 basil leaves

Directions:

1. Blanch tomatoes into boiling water for about 1 minute until the skins crack slightly. Peel, remove stem ends, and any tough parts while squeezing with hands to break up.
2. Place in saucepan. Bring to a boil. Stirring often. Boil uncovered, about 30 minutes until liquid is reduced. If needed 10 minutes into cooking use an immersion hand blender to break up large pieces of tomato.
3. Add lemon juice, sugar, vinegar, chipotles and salt. Stir as it returns to a boil. Boil about 40 - 60 minutes, stirring often, until it thickens.
4. Add basil last 5 minutes.
5. Fill hot sterilized half pint jars to within 1/4 inch of top try to place 1 basil leaf in each jar.
6. Wipe rims clean.
7. Top with sterilized metal lids on jars and screw metal bands on securely. Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.