This Just In

I wanted to try this just because it’s different.  It came out beautifully, although I think it’s mild enough that it can be confused for applesauce.

It will be a tasty addition to oatmeal, or spread on biscuits or toast.

It would be tasty in jam bars too.

Pear Butter

Ingredients

8 large pears, cut into medium size chunks

1 C. orange juice

1/4 C. lemon juice

1 tsp. fresh lemon zest

1 tsp. butter

3 C. sugar

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

Directions

Directions

In a large sauce pan or Dutch oven combine pears, orange juice, butter and lemon juice.

Simmer mixture for 20-30 minutes until pears are soft.

Remove pan from heat, skim off any foam and pour pears into a  food mill or Victorio Strainer; Press.

Return pear pulp to pan and add sugar.

Stir constantly over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.

Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring frequently; reduce heat to low and continue to simmer for 30 minutes, to thicken.  Remove from heat.

Add nutmeg.  Stir well.

 Ladle into hot jars.  Water bath process for ten minutes if you choose, or use the boiling jars/boiling lids method. (I use the latter.  Water bath processing has burned/overcooked too many of my products.)

Makes 6 half pint jars.

A word about Victorio Strainers…they are far superior, in my opinion, to food mills.  The berry screen allows you to get all the “meat” of the fruit, and all the juice.  The stuff that’s left is minimal and pretty dry, so you’re getting all usuable parts of the fruit. 

In my parent’s house, this thing was the holy grail of home food processing equipment.

We kids, even as adults, were never allowed to touch it.

Want something done with it? Dad would do it for you.

I’m 41 years old now and my dad just now let me take it home to use it…and I discovered something.

It’s not that Dad didn’t trust me with it.

It’s FUN to play with.  It’s really a cool toy. 

AND it’s a fantastic tool.

No wonder Dad always wanted to use it at his house.

Enjoy,

S.

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