Pears, Pears, Pears!!

The other day, my sister came to help me out with the kids so I could spend the day processing and canning the pears from our pear tree.

It’s a variety of Asian pear that is similar to a Bartlett, but juicier and ripens earlier in the season.  With all the rain we had this past winter and spring, we are enjoying a bumper crop from all of our fruit trees.  So I was happy to have some time for putting away the pears to enjoy throughout the year and to share with others.



As a child I helped my mom process the apples from the big apple tree, so doing the pears was very similar.  I cut some into halves or quarters and canned them in a light sugar syrup. 



Then I made a big batch of pear sauce (just like apple sauce).   I saved some sauce to feed my little ones, but the rest I made into pear butter and pear leather.


I love to eat the pear butter on toast in the morning.


Pear leather is just like the fruit roll ups you buy at the store, only this is organic with no sugar added.


To make it, I flavored some of the pear sauce with cinnamon and cloves and spread it into a tray on my dehydrator.  A few hours later and I have a great snack that’s easy to take on the go or pack in lunches.




This dehydrator was a wedding gift and I don’t use it enough.  I love it!  And I love to share homegrown foods with my family and friends.
 




Fun fact: Pears are best when they are picked a little green and allowed to ripen indoors in a cool dry place.  This gives them a less gritty texture.

Blessings,
Rebecca

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