Yummy Plummy

So, there I was with three pounds of plums (thank you, co-op!)

and NO IDEA what to do with them...

Then I remembered my friend Jaci's lovely Oregon wedding and the sweet favors her grandmother whipped up for the guests: little jars of peach, pear, and apple butter! Inspired by this old-fashioned tradition, I decided to attempt my very own plum butter.

First, I cut the plums into large chunks, discarding the pits.

Then I put all that plummy purpleness into a six-quart saucepan...

...added some sugar - okay, a lot of sugar...

...a bit of ground cardamom and cinnamon...

...and some water.

I brought it all to a boil, then reduced the heat and simmered for about 20 minutes

or until the fruit was soft and mushy, like this:

Next I pulled out my handy-dandy immersion blender to puree the fruit. ;)

The saucepan went back onto the eye over a low heat

for THREE HOURS until the fruity liquid ends up like this:

Then I slathered some yummy plummy butter on crisp wheat toast for breakfast the next morning - and the next morning. And the next. I love me some plum butter! ;D