Spiced Plums

Hmmmm

Ingredients (5 pints)

• 4 lbs plums
• 5 C water
• 2 C honey
• 2 oranges, juiced and zested
• 5 1" cinnamon sticks
• 15-21 whole cloves

Directions

1. In a large pot combine water, honey, orange juice, and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
2. While that's simmering wash and pit the plums. Depending on size cut them either in half or in quarters. For very small plums you can leave them whole, but prick the skins so they don't burst during processing.
3. After the syrup has simmered for 10 minutes, add the plums. Bring the plums and syrup back to a boil, stirring frequently, and remove from heat.
4. To each pint jar add 3 cloves and 1 tsp of orange zest. Fish the cinnamon sticks out of the syrup and add one to each jar.
5. Now add the plums to the jar leaving ½" of headspace. Try to fit them in as tightly as possible without squishing them.
6. Cover the plums with the hot syrup. Remove the air bubbles and top off with syrup as needed, again, leaving ½" headspace. wipe, lid and ring.
7. Waterbath for 20 minutes