Ideas for Pears?

[Emeline]

I always seem to have a multitude of pears here come late summer and other than what we call bottling (and I think American folk call canning) I'd be interested in some other ideas on how to preserve some of them if anyone would be so kind.  My mother (who died 10 years ago) made a divine pear sauce but sad to say, I can't find the recipe.

But maybe someone has some other ideas?  I'd be grateful for any suggestions.

[Plastic]

Fermentation comes to mind.   

[pamela]

Plastic is right, pears make great wine.
But last summer, I dried pears for this winter and they got gone faster than anything I put up!
LOL
they were like eating candy. Still moist and chewy and so sweet.....hmmmm.
wish I had some more. 

here's how I dried them.
I peeled and sliced them about 1/4 in. thick and put them into water with a good squirt of lemon juice in it then drained them and put them in my old Mr. Coffee dehydrator overnight and then put them into jars when they got done.
Try it next time you have an abundance of pears.

[McDoom]

Brandied pears.  Can (bottle) pear halves in light syrup with two ounces of very good brandy at bottom of jar.  Store at least three months before opening.  Remove pears, warm syrup, serve over ice cream.

Poached Pears in Port Wine reduction.  Take two cups of port wine, simmer on the stove about an hour with a stick of cinnamon and a tablespoon of honey.  Remove cinnamon, thicken with cornstarch.  Peal and core the pears, leave on stem.  Put in boiling hot water for about 20 minutes.  Pour port wine reduction in a glass dish, stand pears up in sauce (helps if you level them when you peel and core).  Put in the refrigerator to chill.  Port wine will climb up on the pear, making a beautiful presentation, serve with cream.

Pear Wine.  A bit more involved.  See this site:  http://scorpius.spaceports.com/~goodwine/pearwine.htm

[Wishful]

The "SO EASY TO PRESERVE" book has an awesome Pear Conserve (like a preserve) recipe. Are you looking for ideas other than canning?  Maybe Pear butter or pear relish...

[pamplemousse]

I vote with Pamela on this one.  I did can some very acceptable and pretty Amaretto Pears though.

Anyway, drying pears is a fast easy way to get rid of big amounts of pears.  Peel, slice, dry, store.  I'm too lazy to do the dip.

I've worked for two different companies in the last year, and at both places people have insisted that the amount of dried pears I brought to work was inadequate, and I should go fetch more.  For them. 

If you make dried pears, everybody will be your best friend.

[mtlouie]

I'll go with dried pears, too.

Galt and I had so many pears....

She did pear butter and loved it. 

We canned some, but most went to dried pears and they are wonderful.

[Emeline]

Thanks so much for the great ideas everyone.

I'm definitely going with some of the recipes (boy, those brandied pears sound good!) and I have just ordered a dehydrator which I am collecting from the store this weekend, so next week I should have dried pears galore I hope!

You guys rock. 

[GypsyCat]

We were up to our ears in pears last year.  I resisted canning too many because I didn't think I liked canned pears.  Boy, was I wrong...the real canned pears are SOOO good!

Anyway, we dried most of our pears.  Besides eating them, they are great as a sub for raisins in a lot of recipes.  I just cut them to small chunks and they work great!  We also did quite a bit of pear sauce and pear butter (I love the pear butter).  I followed the directions here:

http://www.pickyourown.org/allaboutcanning.htm

for the most part.  Worked well!  There are actually TONS of good recipes listed here.  I liked that there were easy to follow step by step instructions with photos for the applesauce which was my first attempt at fruit preservation.  I've been a fan of that site ever since!!

[justanouveaufarmer]

I asked this same question last summer.  Here's the thread:  www.doomers.us/forum2/index.php/topic,26502.0.html

What I learned is I should plant more pear trees. 

[McDoom]

I do a lot of peaches and always can extra.  These I give as "gifts" when someone lets me pick their trees or cactus fruit, which tells them that at least I'm doing something with the produce.

[shaleoh2]

Mmmmm, Doom is good! clicked on the wrong thread
which isreally kind of a right (good) thread, and now I m hungry   

[Boil]

Insert developing little pear buds into bottles, and tape the bottles firmly onto the tree.  When they're fully ripe, remove them and fill the bottle with brandy and sugar.

Age for one year.

[McDoom]

Whoa!  Seriously?  This will work?  What nice gifts.

[Boil]

I've never done it and never even drank it, McDoom, but it's been done for centuries. http://www.winechateau.com/vsku1007877.html?utm_source=Google%20Products&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=CLEAR%20CREEK%20PEAR%20IN%20A%20BOTTLE%20BRANDY