Viennese Beet Preserves - cooking recipe

Ingredients

2 lbs beets, leaves trimmed to 2 inches
3 cups sugar, to taste (1 1/2 lbs. (or more)
1 tablespoon ground ginger
3 small lemons, very finely chopped (not skin or pith)
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (outside skin only, no white pith)
1 cup finely chopped almonds

Preparation

Cook whole beets in boiling water until tender, about 30 minutes.
Let cool, peel and dice.
Combine diced beets, sugar and ginger in medium saucepan and cook over medium-low heat 30 minutes.
Add chopped lemon and continue cooking until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, about 30 minutes.
Stir in almonds.
Transfer to jars with tight-fitting lids and seal.
Store in cool dark place. To be safe process in boiling water for 10 minutes.