A very good sound

I've decided one of the sweetest sounds is the soft metallic ping a canning jar lid makes as it seals. That sound means all of your long hard work has not been in vain.

Two things that make me smile about canning are 1) Most of the fruit I cut up never makes it into any canning jars because between me and my kids we eat a lot of it. 2) The way my house smells during and after canning. Right now it smells like vanilla pears. (Yummy)

I spent yesterday afternoon pealing and slicing pears for pear butter. Then most of the evening cooking and canning it. I decided to try a new recipe this year because last time I canned pear butter no one in my family liked it except me. This new recipe is so yummy I don't think it's going to last very long around here. The lady who posted this recipe on the Internet said her family likes to eat it warm over ice cream so I tried it last night. TASTY YUMMY GRUB! So here's the recipe. I know it's a lot of work so you may not want to try it but just in case here it is.

Pear Butter

By-Rita

10 lbs pears, processed to a puree, (I used my blender)

1 C.Orange Juice

2teaspoons orange zest

2 C. Sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 vanilla bean, seeds of

Wash 8 - 10 pint jars in hot soapy water or in dish washer. Keep hot until needed. Place fruit in a 6 quart pot. Pour orange juice over fruit. stir in orange peel, sugar spices and see of vanilla bean. Stir constantly over medium heat, bring to a boil. Let cook over low hear until desired thickness. Ladle into hot jars 1 at a time, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Wipe rim of jars with a clean damp cloth. Attach lid. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes.