Spiced Prunes

Ingredients

1 pound dried prunes
2 1/2 cups freshly brewed tea
1 teaspoon pickling spice
rind of 1 lemon, sliced thin
2 cups wine vinegar
1 cup sugar

Preparation

Soak prunes in cold tea overnight. Drain, reserving and measuring liquid. Place drained prunes and half of liquid in a saucepan. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender. Drain again, reserving liquid and adding to remaining half of liquid. Tie pickling spices and lemon rind in a cheesecloth bag; place in a saucepan with wine vinegar and sugar. Boil for 5 minutes. Stir in 1 1/4 cups reserved prune liquid; bring just to a boil. Pack prunes in hot dry jars. Discard cheesecloth bag; pour liquid over prunes and seal immediately.

Yield: 3 cups

Special note: we no longer distribute eggs or margarine, but have left the recipes as originally printed to maintain their integrity.