Discard the plum pits, but leave the skin on, and finely chop the fruit or if pitting is too difficult, throw the plums into the pot whole. Simmer the plums and water in a stainless steel pot over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low cover and simmer for 5 minutes. If fruit still has pits, let the mixture cool slightly and pull out the pits using two slotted spoons. Try to keep as much of the fruit as possible. Lou Reed Walk On The Wild Side Lyrics Holly came from Miami F. L. A. Hitchhiked her way across the U. S. A. Plucked her eyebrows on the way Shaved her legs. Sloe jelly is one of the finest fruit jams you can make tart, tangy and mysteriously dark. Perfect with dark meats, its also fabulous on toast. NoPectin Plum Jam. This simple and easy to follow recipe is made without pectin. Detailed beautiful step by step photos to guide you. I used Italian plums. My Wild Plum Jelly recipe is at the bottom of this post. Click here for Wild Plum Jam. Its nearly midnight and the kitchen is filled with the smell of simmering. Discard pits. Add the sugar and bring the mixture to a full, rolling boiling over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in the pectin then return to full boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the pot from the heat. Set aside 1 minute and using the edge of a large metal spoon, skim off any foam from the surface. To test to see if the mixture is set, put a metal tablespoon in a glass of ice water for a minute. Use it to scoop out a spoonful of the hot mixture. Let it cool slightly then check the consistency. If it isnt set enough, boil it another minute. Meanwhile, sterilize the jars, lids and bands according to manufacturers directions or our tutorial on hot water bath canning. Keep the pot with the boiling water on the stovetop. Ladle the jam into the sterilized jars, leaving 18 inch head room at the top. Wipe the rims and threads of the jars clean and seal with lids and bands. Lower the sealed jars back into the boiling water bath. Process jars in boiling water for 5 minutes. Remove jars, label, and store in cool, dry place. Images Sara Kate Gillingham Ryan.