Pear Honey – just what the name says. So sweet and flavorful. Be prepared though. One taste and it will disappear in a flash. See that little bit on the little plate in the picture? That is what is left of the whole batch. Yeh, the same day I made it! A superb spread, Pear Honey is really easy to make. Pear Honey makes me think of turning leaves, earthy smells, and gorgeous rich reds and yellows. It just says Fall! No honey involved and the name may refer to the sweet, deep pear flavor itself. This is a favorite on holiday tables – but you can use it any time! It is a perfectly marvelous topper for ice cream or a crusty bread, hot biscuits or any food you can top with fruit. I use Bartlett pears to make this. They are somewhat thin skinned so peeling is optional. Quarter them ... [Read More]
food preservation
Rhubarb Cherry Jam
Rhubarb is one of the best things about spring – a season full of wonderful things. I love it! Mom’s garden always had half a dozen hills of rhubarb. She kept an eye on them every spring until the stems were just the right size and then send a “big kid” out to harvest. She taught us to harvest only about one third of the stems on each plant. When the stems became skinny, around the Fourth of July that meant the harvest season was over and the plant was allowed to replenish itself until the next year. To harvest pull gently on each stem until it gives way and breaks cleanly from the clump. Break or cut off the big floppy leaves and dispose of them. Head for the kitchen, wash each stem and cut into one inch pieces. Cook with sugar until it is soft. Hot or cold – doesn’t matter. ... [Read More]
Cinnamon Pickles
My recipe card for Cinnamon Pickles, stained with red food coloring, always makes me smile at my friend's distinctive handwriting. Cindy was my north star for a short time. You know, the kind of friend that comes into your life and points a different direction. I became a stay at home mom when my job I loved ended due to budget cuts. The notion of being at home with my sons was not entirely unwelcome since Wheels and I “sort of” planned that lifestyle, but the adjustment of being ONLY with them was challenging, to say the least! I come from a large family, I love people and had always been with a group of friends and coworkers most of the day. And the constant responsibilities of a newborn and a toddler ---- I was a professional but no amount of “professionalism” was going to get ... [Read More]
Low Sugar Strawberry Freezer Jam
Making strawberry jam was not on my agenda this morning. But Wheels called from the General Store to say he found a dozen containers of strawberries that had just been moved to the sale shelf because they were going to “expire” tomorrow. Should he bring them home with the plumbing supplies he was purchasing? Well, of course! I went to the cupboard to get my one and only package of pectin and the big pot. He came home with boxes of beautiful red berries, only a few of which were unusable for just over $10. It didn’t take long to wash and stem the strawberries, cutting them into rough quarters. A heavy water glass mashed them down so there were no big chunks, just small bits. These waited in a bowl, while the sugar and pectin were mixed together in the bottom of the Dutch oven, ... [Read More]
