Gifts Day Two - Meyer Lemon Marmalade

Okay, are you ready for another quick, last minute gift idea?  Meyer Lemon Marmalade.  Oh, I feel the eye rolling, lip curling, snickers out there…marmalade?’ Like I’m going to whip that up while I’m desperately trying to get all the billion other things together for Christmas…really?! ‘  But wait, don’t be so sure of yourself, it really IS quick…I did mine while I was fixing supper…I’m not kidding…

Well , it’s sort of a two day process, but the two pieces are really quick, so that counts as quick…

Meyer Lemon Marmalade

Makes aprox. 6 - ½ pint jars

6 Meyer Lemons (1 ½ LBS)

4 C Water

4 C Sugar

Day One:  Halve lemons crosswise and remove seeds.  Tie seeds in a cheesecloth bag.  Quarter each lemon half and thinly slice.  Combine with bag of seeds and water in a 5 quart stainless steel pot and let mixture stand, covered, at room temperature for 24 hours.

See that’s all there is for the first night!

Day two:  Bring lemon mixture to a boil over moderate heat.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to 4 cups, about 45 minutes…(here’s where you start making dinner)

Stir in sugar and boil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally and skimming off any foam, until a teaspoon of mixture dropped on a cold plate gels, about 15-20 minutes.

Ladle hot marmalade into jars, filling to within ¼ “ of the top.  Wipe rims with dampened cloth and seal jars with lids.

Put jars in a water bath canner filled with boiling water and boil jars for 5 minutes.  Remove jars and cool.

There you have it, add a lovely label, and you have six more gifts ready for giving!

Tomorrow…Pepper Pomegranate Jam…