Pear Butter Food

PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Place all ingredients and 1/4 cup water in a heavy-bottomed pan. Cook over a low flame 2 to 3 hours, until the fruit is soft.
• Remove the vanilla bean, and put the fruit through a food mill on the smallest setting. Pour into canning jars, filling them within a half inch of top. Tap filled jars on table, and run a knife around sides to remove air bubbles. Make sure the top of the jar is clean; seal.
• Refrigerate immediately. The butter will keep for two to four weeks.

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:

• 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

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.

SPICED PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine pears and apple juice in a large Dutch oven.
• Tie broken cinnamon spices, gingerroot, allspice and cloves in a piece of cheese cloth; add to pear mixture. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until pears are tender.
• Drain pears, and discard spice bag.
• Mash pears or process in food processor until smooth.
• Return pear puree to Dutch oven, and add sugar.
• Cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes or until mixture thickens, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat, and quickly pour hot pear mixture into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace; wipe jar rims.
• Cover at once with metal lids, and screw on bands.
• Process in boiling water bath for 5 minutes.

GINGER-PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Add the first 4 ingredients to the slow cooker; stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
• Remove the lid and stir in the fresh and ground ginger.
• Increase temperature setting to HIGH; cook, uncovered, 1-2 hours, to thicken and blend, stirring occasionally.
• Let cool completely, then transfer to glass jars or other containers with tight fitting lids; store in the refrigerator where they will keep for several weeks.