Homemade Fig Preserves

Wash, trim stems and slice figs into quarters. Add quartered figs, sugar, water, lime juice, lime zest, and butter or margarine to a large pot and let sit about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, boil jars. Put flat lids in a small pot of water and boil then turn off the heat.

On medium heat, bring fig mixture to a full rolling boil. Boil for about 10 minutes. Stir in liquid pectin. Continue stirring until ingredients come to a full boil. Stop stirring and boil for exactly 1 minute. Remove pot from hot burner.

Allow preserves to settle. Skim foam off top. Fill jars.

Process 20 minutes in a hot water bath.

Makes 7-8 1/2 pint jars of fig preserves. Each 1/2-pint jar will serve about 6 people depending on how thick they like to spread their preserves.

Note: Cooking time is approximate time needed to boil jars, bring the ingredients to a boil and cook the preserves.