Plum jam.

- plum jam {umbria} - Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome:
PLUM JAM {UMBRIA}
Prep time: 2 hours Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 2 hours 20 mins
Serves: 3 jars

INGREDIENTS
1 kilo (2 pounds) purple plums
500 grams (1 pound) sugar
juice of 1 lemon
3 to 4 small canning jars with lids
INSTRUCTIONS
Wash and dry the plum, then pit them. I usually make a circular cut around the pium, then give it a twist. This leaves you with one half without a pit. If your plum is ripe, then the pit should just pop out. Otherwise you might have to use your knife.
Place the plums in a large pot, and add the sugar and lemon juice. Stir well and leave to sit for at least 2 hours or even overnight. This will allow the the juices to flow from the plums and soften them a bit.
In the meantime sterilize your jars and lids. I usually just do this in the washing machine on a high setting. Otherwise you can boil them in a big pot of water for 10 minutes.
When ready to make your jam put the pot on medium heat and cook, stirring, until the sugar is dissolved and fruit begins to simmer. Turn up the heat a bit, and let simmer, stirring every so often and making sure the bottom isn’t burning, for about 20 minutes. The jam will turn a deep red color and the fruit should fall apart. The jam should reach between 210°F and 220°F, if you have a thermometer.
When the jam has reached this stage, turn off the heat, and carefully ladle the hot jam into the sterilized jars. Fill to within a ¼ inch of the top. Place the lid on each jar, making sure it is closed, but don’t use all your force, since you want the air to be able to escape.
Bring a pot of water to boil, filling it up about half way. Carefully lower the jars into the hot water bath, making sure the water comes up an inch over the top of the jars. Bring it back to a simmer for 10 minutes to sterilize.
Carefully remove the jars from the water bath to a dishtowel on your counter. If you are using canning lids, then you will hear the ‘pop’ as the air escapes and forms

Note: If you are going to be making a lot of jam, a few tools make this much easier. I always use a jam funnel to fill my jars. A candy thermometer takes the worry out of things. And a set of these jam tongs avoids tears.
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