Old-Fashioned Strawberry Preserves

Ingredients

• 2 qt small ripe strawberries washed and hulled
• 6 c sugar
• 14 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp light corn syrup
• 14 c lemon juice
• a few drops red food coloring

Directions

1. Place strawberries in a large saucepot with sugar salt corn syrup and lemon juice
2. Gently mix until berries are coated with sugar
3. Let stand 5 to 6 hours
4. Prepare jars
5. Slowly heat strawberries in mixture until sugar is dissolved
6. Shake pan occasionally but do not stir
7. Boil rapidly for 12 to 15 minutes or until strawberries are translucent and syrup is thick
8. Add red food coloring if desired
9. Skim foam carefully ladle berries into hot jars 14-inch from top
10. Adjust caps and process 15 minutes in a boiling water bath canner
11. Yield 4 8 ounce jars