Paradise Pear Jam

Over the years anyone who has known my mom well knows how much she loves to cook.  My childhood is filled with memories of either watching or helping her put together delicious meals and treats in her kitchen.  Every year at harvest time she especially enjoyed making jam from whatever fruit that would come her way.  Living in Southern California it was usually strawberry, peach and apricot.

When my dad was stationed in the desert, close friends from our church would give her bags and bags of pomegranates from their orchard. She would squeeze out the juice and make beautiful ruby red jars of pomegranate jelly.   Oh to have those pomegranates today, (sigh of wistfulness and delight).

There was even a time when we were camping in New England and we came across a farm where we could pick raspberries.  When we had gathered enough berries Mom stopped at a store and got supplies to make raspberry jam right there at our campsite.  When the park ranger stopped by, to his amazement she sent him on his way with a freshly made jar of raspberry jam.

So it should come as no surprise that when my mom moved near to us and had access to our pear tree that she had a special jam recipe all ready to go.  This year when she picked up her pears I asked if I could come over to help and watch just as I used to years ago.  Come along and watch with me and if you like what you see you can find the recipe Here.

If you like marmalade most likely you would enjoy this jam as it has seven ingredients including orange and lemon peels along with pineapple and cherries added to pears.

When I arrived Mom had already done much of the prep work, including chopping up the fruit and slicing up the orange and lemon rind.

All that was left to prepare was peeling and mashing up the pears.

 Soon everything was ready to place in the pot.  Mom poured in the pectin and began cooking down the fruit.

Once it came to a boil it was time to add the sugar. She cooked and stirred it until it reached a full rolling boil.  Then, she boiled it for one minute.

 

Once the fruit was cooked and ready it was time to pour it into the jars and place in the canner.

We used a steam canner rather than a water bath but you could use whichever you prefer and process accordingly.

There is her finished product.  Isn't it beautiful?  Look at all the rich beautiful color and texture.  These will go into the cupboard until Christmas time.  Then, when Mom has her friends over for lunch or tea each guest will get to take a jar home to savor over the holidays.  I hope you have enjoyed spending an afternoon watching my mom make jam as much as I did.  Perhaps if you drop in to her house for tea she will send you home with your own special jar of  Pear jam.