Basic Pear Butter Food

PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash 8-10 pint jars in hot soapy water or in dish washer.
• Keep hot until needed.
• Prepare lids as manufacturer directs.
• Place in a 6-quart pot.
• Pour orange juice over fruit.
• Stir in orange peel, sugar, spices and seed of vanilla bean.
• Use a hand blender if need be to get a nice smooth puree.
• Stirring constantly over medium heat, bring to a boil.
• Ladle into hot jars 1 at a time, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Release trapped air.
• Wipe rim of jars with a clean damp cloth.
• Attach lid.
• Place in canner.
• Process in a boiling-water bath.
• For 15 minutes.

PEAR BUTTER RECIPE

Steps:

• Place pears, sugar, all spice and nutmeg into slow cooker and mix. Turn on high and cook for 4 -5 hours, until pear pieces are very soft. Once cooked, cool enough to mix with immersion blender, or pour into regular blender. Blend to desired texture. Add vanilla and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly. Pour into jars to store in fridge or freezer.

PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Simmer pear halves and brandy in a saucepan for 20 minutes over medium heat. In a separate saucepan, combine sugar, zest, and orange juice. Set aside. When pears are soft, transfer to a blender and puree*. Add puree to saucepan and simmer for 1 1/2 hours over low heat, stirring occasionally. Pear butter is ready when all the liquid has evaporated and the consistency is very thick. If canning, follow USDA guidelines for canning.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

BASIC PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Place pears in a food processor or blender; puree until smooth.
• Measure 3 cups pureed pears into a saucepan. Add sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Stir in cinnamon. Cook, stirring frequently, until thick, about 15 minutes more.
• Immerse a 1-pint jar in simmering water for 5 minutes. Wash lid and ring in warm soapy water. Fill hot jar with pear mixture. Seal and store in the refrigerator.

PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Place pears into a large pot over medium heat, and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pot and keep them from sticking, about 1/2 cup. Cook until the pears are soft, about 30 minutes. Press pears through a sieve or food mill, and measure out 2 quarts of the pulp.
• Pour the pear pulp and sugar into a large saucepan and stir to dissolve sugar. Stir in the orange zest, nutmeg and orange juice. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is thick enough to mound in a spoon. When the mixture begins to thicken, stir frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom. This will take about 1 hour.
• Ladle the pear butter into hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles by sliding a metal spatula around where the pear butter touches the glass. Wipe jar rims clean, and seal with lids and rings. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. The water should cover the jars by 1 inch. Check with your local extension for exact processing times for your area.

SMALL-BATCH ALMANAC PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring the apple juice, ginger and allspice to a boil.
• Add the pears and reduce to a simmer.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes. Remove ginger slices.
• Continue to cook, stirring regularly to prevent sticking, until the mixture is thick, smooth, spreadable and a dark-brown caramel.
• Can in a water bath or spoon into a clean jar and keep in the fridge up to 6 weeks.

SLOW-COOKER PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Place spices on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather corners of cloth to enclose spices; tie securely with string. In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, toss remaining ingredients. Add spice bag, covering with pears., Cook, covered, on low 5-6 hours or until pears are tender. Remove spice bag., Puree pear mixture using an immersion blender. Or, cool slightly and puree mixture in a blender in batches; return to slow cooker., Cook, uncovered, on high 1-2 hours or until mixture is thickened to desired consistency, stirring occasionally. Store cooled pear butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Freeze option: Freeze cooled pear butter in freezer containers up to 3 months. Liquids expand as they freeze, so leave extra room at the top of the freezer container. To use, thaw in refrigerator.