Apricot, Orange And Almond Jam

Directions

1. Chop the apricots roughly. Put them into a large bowl, sprinkling the fine grated zest of the oranges and the cinnamon between layers. Squeeze the juice of the oranges, measure and add in sufficient water to make 3 pints in all.
2. Pour the liquids over the fruit and leave to soak overnight in a cold place.
3. Slide the contents of the bowl into a preserving pan and simmer gently till the fruit is beautifully tender. Check the fruit occasionally as it cooks and crush it down into the pan with a potato masher. It may need 1-1/4 hrs to become really soft.
4. Hot the sugar. Add in it to the pan together with the juice of the lemons and the almonds. Cook gently till the sugar is melted, then fast-boil till the saucer test shows which the preserve will set. Pot, tie down and label the preserve in the usual way.
5. Makes sufficient to fill 5 jars.