Plum Butter (Polish Powidla Sliwkowe)

This recipe for Polish Plum Butter - Powidla Sliwkowe - calls for only two ingredients - plums and sugar and not very much of the latter. Of all the powidlas, plum powidla is the best known and best loved. It is used as a spread on bread, rolls, sour-milk pancakes - racuszki - but also in sauces, pastries and sometimes in the national dish of Poland - Hunter's Stew or bigos. It is even sometimes turned into soup. This recipe easily can be increased.

1 lb Italian or damson plums washed, halved, and pitted
½ cup sugar

Place plums in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until plums completely break down and are tender, stirring with a wooden spoon.

Add sugar to taste and continue to cook and stir until butter is thick enough so when a spoonful is turned upside down it doesn't immediately drop back into the pan.

Place hot powidla into hot sterilized jars, leaving ¼" headspace. Cover with hot sterilized lids and rings.

Process in a water bath for 10 minutes.

Remove to counter and allow to cool before storing in a cool, dry, dark place.

Cook's Notes: If you don't process in a water bath, the butter can be kept refrigerated for up to three weeks or frozen for up to one year.