Pear And Ginger Jam Food

PEAR & GINGER JAM

Steps:

• Peel and chop the pears and apples into small chunks. Place a couple of tea plates in the freezer for later.
• Place half the pears and all of the apples into a preserving pan, with just enough water to cover the fruit, and simmer gently until soft and mushy (about 40 mins)
• Remove from the heat, add the sugar, pectin, ginger, lemon juice and zest, also add the rest of the chopped pears. Put the pan back on the heat and dissolve sugar gently.
• Once the sugar is dissolved, bring to the boil, and boil rapidly for about 15 minutes, or until setting point has been reached. If you are getting a scum on top, put a nob of butter in at this stage.
• To check if the jam has set, put a small amount on the cold tea plate, then push gently with the spoon, the jam should wrinkle.
• Pour into sterilised jars.

PEAR GINGER JAM

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine the pears, fresh ginger, sugar and juice from one lemon.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat them reduce the heat to medium. As you cook the jam for 10-15 minutes, it will thicken.
• Use a potato masher to help break down the fruit if necessary. If you want to make more of a sauce similar to an applesauce, you could puree the jam before canning it.
• When the jam is the consistency you prefer, ladle it into jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Process the jars for 10 minutes in a water bath canner (adjust for your altitude as needed). Or you could store the jam in the refrigerator for about a month.

GINGER-PEACH JAM

Steps:

• Bring peaches, ginger, and pectin to a boil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and butter; cook and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Return to a boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute more. Remove from heat, and skim off any foam with a spoon.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the peach jam into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then carefully lower the jars into the pot using a holder. Leave a 2 inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary until the water level is at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a full boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

PEAR & GINGER LOAF CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Grease and line the base and sides of a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment, ensuring the parchment comes 2cm above the top of the tin. Beat the butter and sugars together until pale, then gradually stir in the eggs and vanilla extract. Fold the flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt into the mix, then quickly stir through the stem ginger and pears. Pour the mixture into the loaf tin, smooth the surface, then bake for 1 hr - 1 hr 10 mins or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin.
• To make the glaze, mix the syrup with 1 tsp water and the sugar. Poke the surface of the loaf all over with a skewer, then pour on the syrup. Serve warm with cream, or allow to cool completely.

GINGER PEAR JAM

Steps:

• Grate pears coarsely. Combine grated pears with sugar, lemon juice, and ginger in large SS pot.
• Bring pear mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook 30-45 minutes, or until thickened.
• Stir pectin into 3/4 cup of jam liquid, if desired, and add to jam.
• Cook 3 minutes more.
• Meanwhile prepare jars, lids, canner.
• Fill jars to 1/4-inch headspace, cap, and process 10 minutes.

GINGER-PEAR MARMALADE

Steps:

• Place pears and sugar in a large pot. Quarter and seed the lemons and grind in a meat grinder, using the coarsest blade. Add to the pot. Grind enough drained preserved ginger to measure 1 cup and add to the pears. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved. Turn heat low and simmer for 1 hour, until a thermometer registers 220° or until the juice is somewhat syrupy and amber-colored and the fruit is transparent. (Do not overcook and allow the syrup to get too thick; it will thicken considerably as it cools.) Pour into hot, sterilized jelly glasses and cover with a thin layer of paraffin. When the paraffin has hardened, cover the glasses and store.

APPLE OR PEAR GINGER JAM

Steps:

• Use a trivet under the pot.
• Stew the apples gently in 10 fl.oz. water until applesauce consistency (I mash with potato masher).
• Add 12 oz. by weight of sugar for each pint (20 fl.oz.) of apple sauce and bring to the boil. Simmer lightly.
• Add the lemon juice and rind.
• Weigh,rough chop the ginger and add to apples.
• Bring back to boiling point (caution this scorches easily). Test for set. This is quick because of the natural pectin.
• Bottle in sterilised jars.