Sour Cherry Walnut Conserve

DIRECTIONS

• Prepare canner, jars and lids.
• Wash oranges and lemons well, dry.
• Zest all three oranges and 1 lemon.
• Cut oranges and lemons in half, remove seeds.
• Scoop out pulp and place in a large stainless steel saucepan.
• Add zest, cherries with any juice, apples and water.
• Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring constantly.
• Reduce heat and boil gently stirring frequently until cherries are soft, around 10 minutes.
• Add sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Return to a gentle boil, stirring frequently until mixture thickens, around 35 to 40 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in walnuts and liqueur.
• Over medium high heat return to a boil.
• Boil hard for 4 minutes.
• Remove from heat and test gel.
• If gel stage has been reached skim off foam.
• If gel stage HAS NOT been reached return to heat and boil an additional 4 minutes~re-test.
• Ladle hot conserve into hot jars leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Remove bubbles, wipe rims, adjust lids and screw down ring to finger tight.
• Place jars in boiling water bath canner.
• Process for 10 minutes.
• Remove canner lid.
• Let jars stand 5 minutes.
• Remove jars, cool and store.