#67 Pear Butter

This summer I ordered a box of pears from the little Amish store near my house. What was I thinking? I got the call that they were in and then waited too long to pick them up, then let them sit in my garage for another bit of too long and I ended up with some very over-ripe pears that I had to do something with. Okay...how about pear butter? I've never made it before. I didn't even know if my family would like it, but I frankly did not know what else to do with them.

Pear Butter

6-7 pounds pears
4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/3 cup orange juice

Wash pears, then core, peel and slice them. Or you can do what I did and core and quarter them, then add them to a large sauce pot with 1/2 cup water. Simmer until pears are soft and then run them through a strainer like the one I describe here. I do not like peeling fruit, so I have yet another use for my strainer. If you peel them, all you need to do is simmer until soft and puree them using a food processor. Just be careful not to liquefy your pears.

 

Measure two quarts pear puree into a large saucepot. Combine it with sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Add remaining ingredients.

 

Cook until thick enough to round up on a spoon.

As the mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking.

I decided to use freezer jars for my pear butter.

 

I have lots of pear butter in the freezer. I'm not sure I cooked it long enough because the consistency is more like pear sauce, but who am I to say, I've never made it before. It is yummy and sweet. It's sweetness is more like jam. It tastes great on toast and the kids love it. Will I order a box of pears to make it again...NO! Pears ripen too fast for a harvest season that is already too busy. But I think we will have enough pear butter to last us a while:)