Spiced Peaches
2-3 pounds of large peaches or 8 pounds of small peaches
3 1/4 cups sugar
5 cups water
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp vanilla extract
Wash the peaches. Peel by dipping them in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, then plunging them into ice water to cool quickly. Slip off the peel, halve the fruit, or slices, then pit and scrape the cavity to remove the red fibers, if desired (these fibers tend to turn brown during storage).
As the peaches are halved, prevent darkening by placing the fruit directly into an anti-darkening solution