Peach Jelly Chews

Vegetable oil
2 (16 ounce) packages frozen unsweetened sliced peaches
About 3 3/4 cups granulated sugar
3 envelopes (2 tablespoons total) unflavored gelatine
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Oil an 8- or 9-inch square metal pan.

In a 6- to 8-quart pan, preferably 11 inches wide (see NOTES), combine peaches and 1/3 cup water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until fruit mashes easily, 10 to 12 minutes.

Whirl fruit mixture in a blender or food processor, a portion at a time, until smoothly pureed. Return to pan.

In a bowl, mix 3 1/2 cups sugar with the gelatine. Add to fruit mixture.

Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring often. Stir and boil 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and stir often until mixture is thick enough to leave a trail when the spoon is drawn across the pan bottom and juices in the trail are just beginning to turn a darker gold, 25 to 35 minutes. At once, remove from heat.

Stir lemon peel and lemon juice into peach mixture, then scrape mixture into the oiled 8- or 9-inch square pan. Let candy dry, uncovered, for 16 to 24 hours; it should feel firm and not sticky when touched.

On a board, coat a 10-inch square area with about 1/4 cup sugar. Invert pan to release candy onto sugar; if it sticks, use a metal spatula, dipped in sugar, to ease from pan. With a long, sharp knife, dipped in sugar to prevent sticking, cut candy into 49 equal pieces (make 6 cuts lengthwise and 6 crosswise). Coat each piece with sugar.

Serve candies, or arrange in a container with plastic wrap between layers and seal airtight. Store up to 1 month at room temperature.

Yield: 49 pieces

Per piece: 70 cal., 1.3% (0.9 cal.) from fat; 0.5 g protein; 0.1 g fat (0 g sat.); 17 g carbo (0.3 g fiber); 1.1 mg sodium; 0 mg chol.

NOTES: If pan is narrower than suggested, mixture cooks longer and is darker in color. Use a pan with a light interior so you can see color changes that indicate doneness.