The past couple of years we have had a rust on the pear trees. Wasps in the fruit. There were fruit flies everywhere!  We sprayed a fungicide to help reduce the rust, and it worked!

This year, finally a reprieve and we have pears. We were able to coIlect and use 30 pounds. I processed them two different ways – one as a jam, and one as a filling for baking.

Pears are difficult to work with – no two are the same shape or size and because some of them were ripe, they had insects in them and could not be used.

The pears that were perfect, were amazing. We were able to can 13 half pints (jelly jars) of pear jam that we use in oatmeal and on toast in the winter, and 7 pints of pear filling that will be used for tarts, cobbler, on ice cream, etc.

The recipe I used was from a website called Practical Self Reliance.

The pears are delicious and will be a welcome addition to our breakfasts in the winter.