Chinese Apricot Preserves

• 2 12 oz. packages dried apricots
• ¾ cup Hawaiian washed raw sugar, (More if needed)
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp. light or dark molasses
• ¼ tsp. Chinese Five Spices (More if desired)
• 1 tbsp. rock salt
• 1/8 tsp. Star Seed (ground)
• 2 tsp. lemon juice
• 2 tsp. chopped Chinese preserved lemon peel

Combine all ingredients except apricots. Bring to a boil and add apricots. Cook about a minute or two, longer if apricots are hard dried. Remove apricots from syrup and drain. Store in sterilized jars. Recipe yield about two pints. If a juicy apricot preserve is desired, do not drain syrup.