Help with pears

[Triss]

When we went to the fruit stand today, Patrick asked me to pick up some pears.  So I went ahead and got a case of Bartlett pears and now I am need to figure out what to do with them all cuz the kids are sure not going to eat that many before they go bad.  I know I want to can some up like I did my peaches but do they also make good jam or jelly?  And what about dried pears; are they any good?  Any other good things to do with pears?

[Patty S]

Triss, I don't see why you can't make pear butter, the same way you would, apple butter... (sweeten to taste, as apples may call for more sugar.) If your family is into dehydrated fruits, I think they'd really go for the pears!  Give it a try, & use the ripest ones.

If you can them, just make sure that they're not too ripe. If they're just right for eating, forget it! When I was teaching LaRelle how to can, we picked a whole box of pears & canned them up, but they were so ripe (& of course, they get cooked when they're canned), so we wound up with a couple dozen jars of canned pears that were the texture of baby food! It was her first time canning, & they looked pretty & she was proud of them, so she thought they were OK... but I like to bite into canned fruit... not have it mush up in my mouth!   Have fun... I'm happy that you enjoy canning!

[Triss]

Oh I never thought about pear butter, I cannot imagine adding the same spices as I do with the apple though, wonder what spices would enhance the pears??  These ones are nice and firm still so I think they would can up very well.  And my kiddos just LOVE dried fruit.  I need to finish up the apples which should be ready to come out tomorrow and then I will use my apple slicer to cut up some of them and give it a try.

[Patty S]

Since I don't like fruit "butters", I have no idea what kinds of spices you put in apple butter... but I wouldn't think that pears need any enhancing!

[Triss]

Cinnamon and nutmeg for the apple butter.  You are probably right, the pears may not need anything.  I will have to try a small batch and see how it turns out.

[duh]

I would go with one bunch with cinnamon and cloves because I like the bite the cloves give it.  And then I would do one bunch with peppermint for a nice complex flavor.  Then I would be tempted to do a sweet desert relish.  And then there is always chutney.  And the apples and pears combined would be a nice relish.

The only limit is your imagination and taste buds really. 

I love bartlett pears and If I had access to them I'm be canning all sorts of pear recipes. 

I might even try a pear bread in a jar.  Just replace pears for the banana's in the recipe.

Ooooh, I just thought that if you do a chutney add walnuts to it.  Yummy that is if you like nuts. 

[Triss]

The kids are eating them up pretty fast, but I am going to try some basic jam this week.  I think I like the idea of a dash of cloves, but will try it out first to see.  The dried pears turned out good, they are so much sweeter than I imagined they would be, I am sure they are not going to last long here.