posted by Liz Thomas 11-29-100 9:22 PM
From Home-Made Preserves by Jill Nice
"Mardi's Apricot Conserve
450g./1 lb. dried apricots
2 large sweet oranges
2 lemons
1.75 litres/3 pints water
2 oz. seedless raisins
1.5 kg./3 lb. 6 oz. white sugar
2 oz. chopped nuts
Wash apricots well. Chop or mince the oranges, keep the pips and tie them with the pips from the lemons into a muslin bag. Squeeze the lemon juice and reserve it.
Put the apricots, oranges and muslin bag in a deep bowl, cover with the water and allow to stand overnight. The next day turn the contents of the bowl into a preserving pan, add the raisins (large, fat, loose ones) and simmer till all the fruit is soft. Remove the muslin bag and add the warmed sugar and lemon juice. Stir gently over a low heat until the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and boil rapidly until a set is obtained. Allow to cool a little and then add the copped nuts, stir well. Pot. Seal when cold.