Making Pear Butter

What do you do with a profusion of pears?

When we bought this house, we knew there were several fruit trees on the property, but didn't know enough about them (past the season) to figure out what they were. When the fruit started growing that first year, we were excited to find that two of the trees had pears, and one had apples.

None of the trees is in great shape (they are old and have been neglected), but in spite of their somewhat misshapen condition, so far the pear trees have produced many more pears than we could ever possibly eat, even if we ate them for every meal every day.

Last year, a good friend suggested I make pear butter. I'd never heard of pear butter before, but basically it's just apple butter, but made with pears. My kids like apple butter, so I was game, especially since I needed to make something I could can easily, and we'd already eaten enough pear sauce (instead of apple sauce) and sauteed pears (for dessert) to start turning us into pear shaped people...

So, we picked the rest of our pears before Irene came, and we've been storing them ever since. I have to admit that I've been procrastinating about doing anything with them since I've never made pear butter on my own, BUT some of them were getting too ripe (yes, we lost some, but the chickens enjoyed them), so I finally had to jump in and give making pear butter a try. Here's how it turned out...

Here's our basic recipe: 

6-7 pounds pears (about 20 medium)

4 cups of sugar

1/2 cup orange juice

1 tsp apple pie spice

a dash of sea salt

Wash the pears. Core the pears and slice them into sections (I have an apple corer/slicer that does this, or you can do it by hand...I leave the skins on to make it less time consuming, but you can peel them if you want to. It is not necessary that they be thinly sliced...even having them cut up in just four sections will do). 

Put the pears in a large sauce pot with about a cup of water (you can use less, but I was afraid they would burn if I used less). Simmer them over medium heat until the pears are soft. 

(Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of this step). 

Puree the pears using a food mill (or you could use a food processor, I suppose, but I used the hand mill my friend gave me). Be careful not to liquefy the pears. You want them to have texture.

Measure 2 quarts of pear pulp when you are done. Put it back into the rinsed pot (at this point, if you didn't use much water, it is basically non-seasoned pear sauce...though when I make my pear sauce, I hand mash the pears for a coarser texture, and I do peel the pears) and add the sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Then, add the orange juice, the apple pie spice, and the salt.

Now....wait. For a long time. Simmer the pears over medium to medium-low heat (I put a lid on the pot to prevent splatters, but cracked it to let the steam evaporate) until the pear sauce thickens and darkens. My friend says to "cook it until it is thick enough to round up on a spoon." The volume of your pear butter will have decreased by the time you are done. Notice how the butter in the picture below is darker than the sauce that just got started in the picture above.

This may take quite a long time (several hours), so now would be a good time to clean out your silverware and junk drawers, read a good book, or organize your shelves. I read a whole book, sitting in my rocking chair, alternately reading short books to individual kids who'd sit on my lap for a few minutes (I had a migraine that day). It was nice, in spite of the headache.

It is important to not burn the sauce, so regular stirring is essential, and monitoring the heat so it is bubbly (and losing moisture), but not sticking or bubbling over is vital...so not getting too distracted is a good idea (we slightly overdid a small batch, which we will keep for ourselves. Oops.)

 Once it is done, it will have a thick, spreadable consistency and be absolutely delicious. You can either ladle the hot butter into hot jars, leaving head space, removing the air bubbles, and adjusting two piece caps before processing the jars in a boiling water canner for ten minutes OR you can put it into freezer jars and store it in your freezer for up to a year, BUT believe me, between the jars you give away and the ones your kids devour, your pear butter won't last that long. Don't forget to label your jars, though, so you can keep track of when it was made, and what it is.

Making pear butter is a great project for a rainy day...and a lot of fun for the whole family. Delicious fun. Enjoy!!

Feel free to share your yummy recipes for anything having to do with pears or apples. I'd love to try them!

Blessings,

Heather

Ladybug's Peanut Butter, Honey, and Banana Sandwich Tutorial

Welcome to my tutorial for my

"Go-Bananas-and-Bee-my-Honey-Because-I-am-Stuck-on-You-Sandwiches"

By Guest Poster:  Ladybug

Ingredients needed:

JIF Peanut Butter

(or your favorite, but we think JIF is yummiest!)

Honey (local honey is best, but we couldn't find any)

A ripe banana (the less green, the better...brown spots are okay

...that means it is sweeter)

Two slices of bread per sandwich

 (one banana can make three sandwiches).

Step One: Slice banana into thin pieces.

Step Two: Add a squiggle of honey to one slice of bread per sandwich

(you can make funny faces if you want to).

You might want to spread it out a bit (or not).

 Step Three: Put banana slices on top of honey.

It takes about five slices per sandwich, or you can use more

if you have more bananas available.

Step Four: Spread peanut butter on the other slice of bread

for each sandwich.

Use lots. Yum!

Step Five: Put the peanut butter half on top of the
banana and honey half.
Done!

Voila! Delicious Peanut Butter, banana, and honey sandwiches.

Easy enough that a kid can make them!

Delicious enough that a kid can't wait to eat them, too.

YUM!!!

 MMMMMMMM!

That's a thumbs up from me.

I hope you like it, too.

Blessings,

Ladybug

Mom got this published for me on The Legacy of Home's The Christian Home Blog Carnival. That's nifty!

Saturday Tea Time

The sugar spoon was a gift from my Grandma Pooh...it has a tiny teapot on top.

 Isn't it adorable?

This Saturday the ladies had tea time at Blessing Farm. While Hubby took the boys off the a local historic plantation for a Civil War re-enactment, meeting some friends there, and having a literal "blast" (I hear there was quite a bit of cannon fire), the ladies gathered at home for the genteel practice of having tea.

I got up early and ground some white wheat to make my family's favorite Bran Muffins (recipe below), and they turned out moist and scrumptious (it's a good recipe, you should try it). Ladybug had talked me into buying some lemon cake at the grocery store after our Antique Mall trip the night before (it was the same price to buy the pre-made lemon cake made as it was to buy a lemon cake mix and icing to top it with), so we had that to grace our table as well.

We brewed up a pot of my favorite Earl Grey tea (decaffeinated, since the children were drinking it with us), and the girls helped Nanny set the table with their little tea sets and our "grown up" one (another delightful Antique Mall find using my Christmas gift certificate from Bubba...two beautfiul tea pots, four scalloped edged serving plates, and a matching creamer and sugar dish). We each had a cup and saucer (they are from Ladybug's set, a gift from Miss S. on her birthday), a small cake plate (some of my milk glass plates), a tiny spoon for stirring (from...the Antique Mall...I LOVE that place), and a crocheted-edged napkin (a set of four...a gift to Ladybug from Lady L...thank you, Lady L.).

Thankfully, baby Boo decided he wanted a nap (really, he did), so we laid him down in his bed, turned on some sweet classical music, lit a vanilla candle, and sat down to pleasant repast. We started with a prayer to bless the food, then taught the girls how to serve tea using their tiny tea pots. It took some practice, but by the third tiny tea cup, both Ladybug and Firefly were scarcely spilling a drop.

Isn't it adorable that they wanted to use the tiny tea sets instead of regular-sized cups?

I just love Ladybug's pinky finger...soooo refined! ;-)

Nanny and I enjoyed talking with the little girls about delightful little girl things during our time with them. In between our amiable chatting:

• We showed them how to take only half of what your eyes tell you they want, then to ask for more when you are done with that
• We demonstrated how to put their napkins on their laps and use them to dab at their lips when needed.
• Firefly swallowed her tea the wrong way a few times and got to practice the etiquette of coughing into her napkin, face away from the table.
• We practiced NOT talking with our mouth full.
• We explained why it is rude to reach across someone to get something you want, and helped them learn to ask, "Please pass the sugar," and "May I please have another slice of cake" with a sweet voice.
• We taught them what topics are approriate for the table, and which ones are not (though I don't think it is really the girls who need help in this area...at least not at our house. Maybe we will have to include the boys next time!).
• Lastly, we explained how a pleasant expression and an agreeable disposition says more about you than a hundred words can...and how kind words make your company feel welcome.

Here we all are in our dining room, just about ready to start the fun!

Our tea time was a time of learning manners, but also a time of pleasantries and fun. I will cherish the precious memories forever. I am so glad we had our tea time. I can't wait until it is time for the next one. We will have to invite friends next time, so the girls can practice their manners in company.

I hope you have a blessed day...and don't forget to take time for tea in your busy week. You will be glad you did!

Blessings,

Heather

I think Firefly learned the lesson about having a pleasant expression!

-------------------------------------------- 

Bran Muffins (modified from the classic All-Bran recipe)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Sift together:

• 1 1/4 cup flour (I used 3/4 cup freshly milled white wheat flour, 1/2 cup white flour)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbs. Baking Powder

• 1/4 tsp. salt (I used sea salt)
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon

------------------------------

Put 1 1/4 cup milk in a different bowl
Add 2 cups bran cereal...you may use All-Bran, but bran flakes of any brand work (I do soak them a bit longer)

Soak for 10 minutes

-----------------------------

Add the following to the soaked cereal mixture:

• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup chunky applesauce (you may use another type, but this one works very well to make a nicely textured muffin)
• 2 TBS oil
• if available, sometimes I add one diced apple (peeled and cored, of course)

Stir gently, then add flour mixture and mix until combined.

-----------------------------

Spray muffin sheet or line with papers, then fill each 2/3rds full. This works well with either 12 regular or 6 jumbo muffins.

Bake for 15-18 minutes. Test with a toothpick. Muffins will be firm, but the toothpick will not be entirely clean. These muffins are very moist and are delectable for breakfast topped with fresh butter. Enjoy!

Third Annual Not-a-Superbowl Party

Okay, it's not that I HATE football. I just don't see the point of it. I know, I know. There are a lot of folks out there who are really into different teams and who have a lot of fun hollering at the television set over various plays and decisions, as if the coaches, refs, and players can actually hear them (my dad, my husband, my oldest son, & my brother just to name a few), BUT I am not one of those people. I'd rather PLAY football than watch it, and given a choice of what to do on ANY given day, I will NEVER choose watching football (well, maybe over watching pro-wrestling...if I can't choose to watch nothing at all).

However, I do support my husband's, brother's, father's, and sons' choice to watch the Superbowl and enjoy the experience. The men in my life don't tend to take advantage of football season as an excuse to totally absent themselves from family life (we don't even have cable TV here, so for hubby this year, the Superbowl was it), so it's not hard to want for them to have a fun day of "guy time." I am perfectly happy watching the kids and trying to keep them out of the way, so the guys can watch the game uninterrupted.

In fact, I am so happy to do that, that the last few years, since moving back near my family, my mom and I have hosted an "Not-a-Superbowl Party." Twice, we had it at her house, which is also where the guys were watching the Superbowl. Her house is large enough to support having two groups of folks doing two divergent activities without there being a conflict of interest, and it was easy for us to relax in one room and monitor the snack area, while they yelled at the television in another.

This year, the Superbowl Party was hosted at my brother's house, which was going to be full of adults having fun, so I decided to do it a bit differently and have my own non-Superbowl celebration over here. Seriously, who wants to monitor four kids under age seven at a grown-up party, and spend the entire evening (which was a late one) keeping them out of the way? My hubby was happy to head on over to my brother's house with the older boys, leaving me behind with the kids, and I didn't mind it one bit because I had PLANS.

I figure, I think it's great the guys (and gals) who like football have this one day of the year to look forward to...but just because I DON'T choose to watch the game, should I be left out of the fun...and the awesome snacks? When we bought the ingredients for the traditional seven-layer dip my guys always ask me to make (recipe below), we made sure there was enough to prepare TWO pans of dip, bought extra bags of chips, and I also asked hubby to splurge for me and buy us a veggie tray (I figured someone at the other party would bring a veggie tray for those guys...or something more up the guys' alley like hot wings). After church, I made the dip, then sent the boys on their way to have a nice evening of pick-up basketball games, Wii, watching the football game, and junk food. The kids and I waited for my mom to show up (she, like me, does not prefer football so she joined me...since my sister-in-law was hostessing the Superbowl party, she wasn't with us this year) and then we got started on our fun.

The kids were definitely excited to have an evening of watching videos, playing games, coloring, and yummy food to look forward to. We were kind of in the mood to take it easy, so we spoiled the kids by letting them watch a few Dora the Explorer episodes while they colored pictures. After a relaxing chat with Mom while we partook of the bountiful feast, we dressed the kids in their PJs and served the remains of the spread on trays for the kids: pineapple, canteloupe, bananas, and strawberries, a veggie tray with broccoli, carrots, celery, snow peas, and ranch dip, my seven-layer chip dip, cheese slices, drinks, and overfrosted cupcakes. YUM!

You should have seen those kids dig into that broccoli! Each one took a tree-sized bunch, dipped it into ranch, and devoured it in less than a minute. I was so proud that they like their veggies! I chose an old Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr movie from Netflix (The Grass is Always Greener), and while the kids ate and then played in their room, mom and I watched the movie and sewed on our projects of a yoyo quilt top (me), and a cross-stitch bookmark (mom). There was no yelling at the TV at our house, or wild and crazy commercials, bad half-time shows, or singers who get the words wrong to the National Anthem, but we had fun in our own quiet way. Then we tucked the kids in, said prayers with them, and I walked mom to her car so she could get home before the less-tame party-goers got on the road.

At previous years' parties we've been a bit less laid-back...the first year we had a long table set up in the living room and spent the day scrapbooking (and eating) like maniacs. The second year, I think we played games and watched a movie, visited a lot and had some really great food (hubby made some very spicy hot wings that year...whew...I am still sweating from eating them!). This year, I am still not feeling great because of the miscarriage, so simply enjoying each others' company, sewing, and watching an old movie, was just what the doctor ordered. Thanks for joining me, Mom. Maybe next year we will record a bunch of Dancing With the Stars episodes (my mom loves that show) and have our own fun time yelling at the TV...Who knows? ;-)

Here's that recipe:

Simple Seven-Layer Dip

I say"to taste" a lot in this recipe, because every family is different. This recipe is easy to tweak so that your family will absolutely love it when you make it. Adjust it however you like.

• two cans of refried beans
• container of sour cream
• can of sliced olives
• diced green onions (about a half cup, or more, to taste)
• shredded lettuce (about two cups, or more, to taste)
• diced tomatoes (about a cup, or more, to taste)
• A bag of shredded cheddar or mexican-mix cheese (about a cup, or more to taste)
• taco seasoning (I use about one teaspoon per can, but you can use more or less, as your taste dictates)
• due to taste preferences, we turned a potentially eight-layer dip that included guacamole into a seven layer one. You can add the guacamole back, or serve it on the side.
• another optional layer is salsa, which I have found makes the dip too runny, so I serve it on the side.
• a final optional layer is jalepeno peppers, or some other favorite pepper, which I would serve on the side for the benefit of those folks who like to cry when they eat.

Get out your largest rectangular casserole dish (or even better, one of those disposable aluminum ones from the dollar store). Put the two cans of refried beans in a bowl and add the seasoning, stirring and adding more until the flavor suits your taste. Spread the cold beans evenly on the bottom of the casserole dish. Using a spatula, spread the container of sour cream over the beans, trying not to mix the sour cream in with the beans. Sprinkle the shredded lettuce on top of the sour cream. I use a bag of shredded lettuce when I am strapped for time. Sprinkle the diced tomatoes on top of the lettuce, the diced green onions on top of that, then the cheese, and the drained olive slices go on last (I only put them on half of mine because I do not like them). Serve with chips (we use Santitas as they are inexpensive, but pretty tasty and don't break really easily), and salsa/guacamole/hot peppers on the side. Enjoy! (My son said the big pan of dip I sent lasted about five minutes at their Superbowl party. It made me feel great to hear that, but I wish I'd sent more!)


So what do you do on Superbowl Sunday? Party with the football buffs (because you are one, or because you love one?)? Go shopping? Go to a movie? Hide in your room while your hubby hollers at the TV? Keep busy serving the partiers? Go to a special event at your church? Visit a friend? Have your own Not-a-Superbowl-Party? If you do something special for Not-Necessarily-Superbowl-Sunday, let me know and leave a link if you have a related post.


Blessings,



Heather

Christmas Cookie and Candy Exchange

I had the pleasure of hostessing a Cookie Exchange for four other families today. It was a bit hectic trying to get the house ready for the occassion, but thanks to hubby, Tex, and the kids (and all of their invaluable help), everything was sparkling clean and prettily arranged for our guests' enjoyment this afternoon.

We each made five dozen cookies (that way our own families got some of our cookies, too) and packaged them separately in bags with a recipe card attached. The ladies (and their daughters) shared a few pots of Earl Grey tea and some lemon pound cake, while chatting about all things family and Christmas. The little ones ran around and enchanted the older girls with their easy laughter and hugs. The moms enjoyed watching their children, young and old, interact so graciously.

It was an altogether pleasant and worthwhile time that I definitely want to make a yearly tradition. I loved having the opportunity to fellowship with like-minded ladies and to get several new (and delicious!) recipes to add to my collection. Plus, my kids are so happy to have all those amazing cookies to enjoy over the next few days. I would never have found the time this year to make five different varieties of cookies, but one, I could do.

Here's what the ladies brought to the exchange:

• Christmas Candies (me)
• Ginger-Molasses Cookies
• Sugar Cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles
• Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Chocolate Fudge and Peanut Butter Fudge

I was sneaky and opened the bags tonight after the kids were in bed. Wasn't that naughty of me? I tried them all (incuding my own) and have decided that my favorite are the Ginger-Molasses cookies made by our friends, the P. family (yes, I even liked them better than my own contribution!). I have been drinking ginger tea lately to try and help my headache-related nausea and my migraines, so I guess I have developed quite a liking for the flavor of ginger. I found the slight zing to be exactly what I was in the mood for...I can't believe I actually picked something non-chocolate, but there you have it. I did.

Here is the recipe for the Christmas candy my mom makes every year (I made this instead of the cookies I'd planned to make because she is out of town helping her mother and I KNEW it would be a hit...it always is):

Ingredients:

One bag of chocolate morsels
One bag of butterscotch morsels

One can of salted red-skinned Spanish peanuts

1. Heat each bag of chips separately according to package instructions (well, I actually do all of the chips in one bag at once rather than by the cupful, so I have to heat it up for longer, but I do this incrementally and with stirring in between, so I won't burn the chips). I usually do the butterscotch first because they are a little bit tougher to melt.
2. Combine the chocolate and butterscotch in one bowl and stir in the peanuts.
3. Drop tablespoonfuls (for larger candies) of the mixture onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. For smaller candies, use a teaspoon (this is the best choice for families with smaller children. These candies are rich.)
4. Allow to cool and harden in the fridge, then store in an airtight container IN THE FRIDGE. Makes about three dozen large candies.
5. Enjoy! We are thinking this recipe might be delicious if made with peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch. What do you think?

So what is your favorite cookie/candy recipe to make at Christmas? Can you tell me why we only go crazy on the cookies once a year? We ought to do this more often. Well, then again, maybe my waistline thinks it is better to do this only once a year after all...

I hope you are enjoying your Christmas preparations.

Blessings to you and yours,

Heather

Time for Tea

Good friends came over today for a visit from the Bookmobile, a day of play, nice conversation, and dinner. The boys, ages 12-9 played for hours with Tex's "practice swords" we bought him from the Vision Forum catalogue last Christmas. They also shot the bows and arrows, threw slobber balls for Bella, and fed the animals in a sudden torrential downpour (which they seemed to think was FUN). Then they proceded to defeat the "Dark Side" playing some Star Wars game on the computer.

The little ones had fun (ages 1-7) playing dress up inside, playing Reader Rabbit, and loving on (or tormenting, depending on your viewpoint) the new kitten and the bunny. Then the girls (Ladybug, Firefly, and my friend's 7 yo daughter) came in and sweetly asked if we could have a tea party.

Well, that wasn't in my plan for the day, but on the spur of the moment I decided, "Why not?" So my friend, Lisa, and I got out my Baking With Julia cookbook (I LOVE it! I saw the movie Julie and Julia with my mom and I am now a Julia Child fan!) and found a recipe for buttermilk scones. Fortunately, while I don't keep buttermilk handy, I do have Saco's buttermilk powder and that worked fine.

Lisa washed cups and a tea pot, then brewed some Earl Grey (my FAVORITE, Lady Grey comes in second), and I got down a silver tray and made some strawberry butter while the scones were baking (all I did was add some of the strawberry freezer jam I made to Parkay from the tub and voila! Strawberry butter!).

Here is how it turned out:

It's a good thing we made plenty (our final batch was double this amount), because the big boys ate and drank more than the girls did...but don't tell anybody!

Here's the recipe for the scones that I used. Yes, as usual, I adjusted it (*gasp*...did I REALLY adjust a Julia Child recipe? Yes, I did. I did not have lemon zest or lemon flavoring, so I added vanilla and some butter flavor instead. Plus, I have made scones before and found that I like a bit of vanilla yogurt added to the mix for moistness and flavor, so I did that, too.) And guess what? They were GREAT!!

Buttermilk Scones
adapted from Baking With Julia

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees

Ingredients:
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking sodabaking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (I had to use margerine and it worked fine)
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt (my change..we like ours chewy and soft...you can leave this out if you like)
1 tsp. vanilla (my change)
1/2 tsp. butter flavor (my change...Julia calls for 1 tbs. lemon or orange zest)

Sift dry ingredients together. Cut in cold butter pieces using fingers or a pastry blender until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Large pieces of butter are fine as this increases flakiness. Combine buttermilk, yogurt, and flavorings, then add to the mix with a fork just until moistened. The dough should be soft. If it is too dry, add a bit more buttermilk. Make a ball with the dough, then press gently on a lightly floured surface and knead briefly (just a dozen times, no more). Make sure you flour your hands, too, so you don't get too sticky.

Cut the dough in half and pat first half into a flat, 1/2 thick circle. I put the remaining dough in the bowl in the fridge while doing this step. Cut your dough into eighths or tenths and place the triangles on an ungreased baking sheet. Melt a half stick of butter in the microwave and brush the tops of the scones with some of the butter (save half for the next batch). I didn't have a brush, so Lisa suggested dabbing it on with a paper towel and that worked fine. Then take your sugar shaker and sprinkle the tops of the scones with sugar (about 2 tbs). I cooked my scones in two batches because my oven is not that good. The batches took about 10 minutes each. Repeat this process with the second batch. The scones should fluff up nicely, but be somewhat firm to the touch and golden. They are gooooood! Dip them in strawberry butter (or, I have added a touch of vanilla creamer to butter for a nice change before) and they are deeeeelish!

Enjoy! Let me know about your tea party...I'd love to hear details and to see recipes.