Sweet Potato Jam

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lemon
• 4 whole cloves
• 4 cups water
• 1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and finely diced
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cinnamon stick, 3 inches long
• 1/2 vanilla bean, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Recipe

• 1 remove 4 strips lemon zest from lemon-if you don't have a zester, you can use a vegetable peeler.
• 2 tie lemon zest and cloves in a small piece of cheesecloth.
• 3 squeeze the juice from the lemon into a large saucepan.
• 4 remove any lemon seeds.
• 5 add 4 cups water to saucepan.
• 6 add sweet potatoes to lemon water in saucepan.
• 7 add sugar, cheessecloth and contents, cinnamon stick, vanilla bean, and nutmeg.
• 8 bring mixture to a boil.
• 9 reduce heat and simmer until thick and jam like, about 30 minutes.
• 10 using a spoon, skim off any foam that may rise to the surface as the jam cooks.
• 11 remove from heat.
• 12 the potatoes should be soft enough to fall apart on their own, but if they don't, mash them with the back of a wooden spoon.
• 13 remove and discard cheesecloth and contents.
• 14 you may leave the vanilla bean and cinnamon stick in the jam if you prefer, if not-remove them.
• 15 ladle jam into hot, clean jars---filling to 1/4 to 1/8 inch from the top.
• 16 wipe rim of jar clean.
• 17 place canning lids that have been preheated in hot water on jars and tighten rings as tight as possible.
• 18 process in water bath canner for 10 minutes. if you prefer not to process it, store in refrigerator and use within 10 to 14 days.
• 19 ~~important: please note~~this jam is rather perishable, so it is best to store even the sealed jars in the refrigerator. once opened, the jam should be served within 4 to 5 days.~~.