Apricots Spoon Sweet

The aromatic and tasty apricots can be a special Summer spoon sweet. With a few exceptions the procedure of the spoon sweets is the same for all the fruits. Some they need more sugar than others or some extra pectine etc The main thing is that you need a good quality of fruits and in this case ripe but firm apricots. The apricot spoon sweet is one of those that in the past they used to soak them in pickling lime but the version I give you today is the classic one without any

Ingredients:

1Kg of apricots

500gr. of sugar

350ml of water
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 lemon, the peel
2-4 tbsp of lemon juice

Method:
Wash well, halve and carefully stone the apricots because we need them whole and to keep their shape (this is something the pickling lime used to do).

In a large heavy bottomed saucepan put the sugar, the water and the lemon peel and bring them to the boil in medium to high heat. Let them simmer for 5 minutes and then add the apricots and the vanilla essence. Let them come to the boil again and then turn the heat to medium and keep simmering for 5 minutes.
*** Don't stir at all in any case!! Switch off the heat and set the saucepan aside until it cools.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apricots onto a dish and put the saucepan with the syrup back on the heat. Bring to the boil and add the lemon juice. Turn the heat down and simmer the syrup until it thickens.

Allow to cool and put the apricots back in the saucepan with the syrup. Now allow to cool completely and divide into sterilized jars.