For fig preserves, I don't chop them up or peel them (except for my daughter, who wants jam from figs peeled and chopped). I put them in a stainless steel pan with enough water to cover them and cook them for 15-20 minutes, then drain the water off and set the figs to one side (remove stems before this initial cooking). Combine sugar with lemon juice (a little less than 1/2 cup sugar/cup of figs--or add lemon juice about 15 minute befor figs are done)along with a little water, heat stirring constantly. Add figs. Cook until clear (sometimes I take the figs out and cook the syrup down some more, then add figs back). Pack into hot jars. Place into boiling water bath 10 minutes. Hot biscuits with butter and a jar won't last long at all.

Years ago I adapted a honey lemon jelly to add lemon thyme, but I can't find the recipe, darn it! But there is a recipe in the Ball Blue Book of canning for lemon mint jelly and mint jelly. I'll bet you could sub cider vinegar and purple basil and get a good jelly. Here's that recipe: Lemon Mint Jelly from Ball Blue Book of Canning 1 1/2 cups lemon juice (try vinegar) 1 1/2 cups water 1 cup firmly packed mint leaves (use basil) 1 package powdered pectin 4 1/2 cups sugar Pour boiling water over basil, let steep for one hour. Press juice from the leaves to extract it all. Combine lemon juice (or vinegar) and basil extract in a med. saucepan. Stir in pectin, bring to a rolling boil. Add sugar and return to a rolling boil. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary. Pour hot into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. (At this point I'd insert a decorative fresh basil leaf or basil flower (washed of course). Adjust caps. Process 5 minutes in a boiling water bath. Yields about 4 half pints. Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe you can't just sub cider vinegar for lemon juice. I know the acidity of such things does vary. I think it would be worth an experiment. Here's a recipe for Apple Herb Jelly from the Sunset Home Canning Book that could maybe be adapted. I have used this one as well. 2 cups bottled filtered unsweetened apple juice 1/3 cup dry basil 3 TLSP lemon juice 3 1/2 cups sugar 1 pouch liquid pectin Bring apple juice to a boil in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Remove from heat, stir in basil and cover. Let stand for 2 hours. Pour mixture through a jelly bag or a cheese-cloth lined colander. Squeeze out and reserve all liquids. Discard herbs. Rinse pan and return all liquids to the pan. Stir in lemon juice and sugar. Bring to a biol over high heat, stirring constantly. Pour in pectin all at once, bring to a full rolling boil, and boil, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from heat and skim off any foam. Ladle hot jelly into hot, sterilized half pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rims and threads clean; top with hot lids, then firmly screw on bands. Process for 5 min. in BWB. (Can also add decorative leaves to this jelly). And last but not least, Garlic or Shallot Jelly that could also probably be fiddled with to make basil jelly. Also from Sunset Home Canning Book. Since this recipe is huge, I might try halving it. 1/2 cup finely chopped garlic or shallots (This is where I'd add the purple basil, either all of the 1/2 cup or some of it.) About 3 cups white wine vinegar (5% acidity) I'm not sure if you could sub cider vinegar. 1 1/2 cups water 6 cups sugar 2 pouches (3 oz. each) of liquid pectin Combine garlic or shallots and 3 cups of the vinegar and a 2 - 2.5 quart pan. Bring to a simmer over med. heat. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, pour into a glass jar. Cover and let stand for 24 - 36 hours at room temperature, then pour through a fine strainer into a bowl, pressing garlic or shallots with the back of a spoon to squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Discard residue. Measure liquid, if necessary, add vinegar to make 2 cups, or boil to reduce to 2 cups. In a heavy-bottomed 8-10 quart pan, mix flavored vinegar, water and sugar. Bring to a full rolling boil over med. high heat, stirring. Stir in pectin all at once, return to a full boil and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, skim foam, ladle into hot sterilzed jars, etc., leaving 1/4 inch head space (can add decorative basil leaf). Process 5 min. in BWB. Let stand for a few days before using. All of these recipes are kind of tricky, don't lessen any of the acid ingredients or increase any of the herbs or garlic or water. Also dealing with pectin can be an adventure, doesn't always set. If doesn't set, use for salad dressing, mixed with mayo or olive oil. Ask me how I know, lol! As for the FROG jam, I'd get a box of pectin and follow the recipe for "fruit jam" using a mix of the fruits and ginger to taste in the measure called for in the recipe. Have fun! Check back here if you have any questions about making jam or jelly.

I had a huge supply of figs last year, jamming like crazy, making fresh fig cakes and filling cookies, eating my fill with goat cheese daily, and at the end of the season I sprinkled some with sugar and popped them in the freezer. My, oh my! Delicious in the middle of winter, slightly defrosted, with a mug of hot green tea on the side, like eating candy. Another use for low sugar fig jam is to slather it on leftover chicken in a sandwich, heated or not. I think Carol's recipe suggestion for the fig ginger glaze would also be tasty used as a green salad dressing by substituting water for the beef stock and not using the bay leaf called for. Nancy

You could try looking at proportions in the recipe for fig jam with liquid pectin. Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/how/can_07/fig_jam_liquid.html