elegantlion Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Our pear tree has an abundant amount of pears. I need some ideas of personal use and what else to do with them. This is our first year with a pear tree. I am a basic cook. We don't have stuff to do canning, nor can we afford it right now. We'll be gifting our neighbors and family as well. Any other bright ideas? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 One of our favorite deserts: peel pear, halve it, steam in little water with sugar cinnamon and cloves (and some white wine if you like) until tender but not mushy. Remove from liquid, reduce liquid to siroupy sauce Pour sauce over pears. You can also serve the pears with chocolate sauce (Pear Helene) or vanilla ice cream. Compote of steamed pears with spices Pear cobbler Pear pie (like apple pie - just use pears, or mix apples and pears) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsJewelsRae Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 You can get set up with canning pretty cheaply by buying used jars on kijiji or thrift store. You can mix them with apples and sauce them, freeze. We have a lot of pears from our orchard every year and I can, sauce, and juice ours. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissKNG Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 OT: Our elderly neighbor has a pear tree and we asked permission to pick pears but...when is it ok to start picking them? How do you know if they are ready to be picked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 One of our favorite deserts:peel pear, halve it, steam in little water with sugar cinnamon and cloves (and some white wine if you like) until tender but not mushy. Remove from liquid, reduce liquid to siroupy sauce Pour sauce over pears. You can also serve the pears with chocolate sauce (Pear Helene) or vanilla ice cream. Compote of steamed pears with spices Pear cobbler Pear pie (like apple pie - just use pears, or mix apples and pears) These sound wonderful, pear pie sounds so good about right now. You can get set up with canning pretty cheaply by buying used jars on kijiji or thrift store. You can mix them with apples and sauce them, freeze. We have a lot of pears from our orchard every year and I can, sauce, and juice ours. :001_smile: Pear sauce sounds good. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 OT: Our elderly neighbor has a pear tree and we asked permission to pick pears but...when is it ok to start picking them? How do you know if they are ready to be picked? Pears continue to ripen even after they're picked, so I would pick when they're close to ripe. You can keep them in a cool, dark place to make them last longer, or you can leave them on the counter to ripen slowly, or you can put them in a paper bag to ripen quickly. As for using them, you can use them in most of the ways you'd use apples. I'd probably go with an easy crisp: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/maple-apple-crisp/detail.aspx You can mix apples and pears or just use pears. I would personally cut back on the sugar when using pears, but I tend to like sour apples in things like crumbles and pies anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 OT: Our elderly neighbor has a pear tree and we asked permission to pick pears but...when is it ok to start picking them? How do you know if they are ready to be picked? Here's a nice article on pears. http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/node/413 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truscifi Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Pear cobbler. Pear compote. Pear butter (you can freeze it instead of canning, though if you can find used jars canning really isn't bad). Pear sauce and pear jam can be frozen as well. Just google for freezer friendly recipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Pears can be diced and stewed with a bit of water, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ground ginger. It makes a nice side dish in place of applesauce, and is good stirred into oatmeal or yogurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pippen Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 This is a wonderful recipe for pear butter. You can just freeze it. http://www.food.com/recipe/caramel-spice-pear-butter-256372 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty Mathy Mom Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 We had lots of pears last year. After we got tired of cobblers and pies, I started drying them. We snacked on them all winter. The pear tree decided to take this year off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danybug Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 My suggestion is more an after thought, but...my parents have pear and apple trees in their yard and all the ones that are marred they deliver to the horses in the stables next door. The horses really gobble them up and my kids LOVED getting to help. It was much better than leaving them piling up in the yard with all of the bees ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Another vote for pear butter. Also, a yummy salad is diced pears, pecans, goat cheese (crumbled) and raspberry vinaigrette. I ate my weight in this last year I'm pretty sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Marmalade Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Two of my favorites. The honey could also be stored in jars in the fridge without processing. Autumn Pear Pudding Cake 4 medium pears or apples — peeled,cored,sliced 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 cup butter — softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ginger 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1 cup flour 1/2 cup milk 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup hot tap water There are two parts to this recipe, the cake and the topping. To make the cake: Lightly grease an 8-inch square or 9-inch round pan, place this pan onto a baking sheet to catch drips. Place the fruit in the pan, and sprinkle it with the lemon juice. In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, baking powder, spice, and salt until smooth. Beat in the egg, then add the flour alternately with the milk (1/2 cup flour, the milk, remaining 1/2 cup flour), beating well after each addition. Spoon the batter over the fruit in the pan, spreading it to mostly cover. To make the topping: Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and spice. Sprinkle this mixture over the batter, then carefully pour the hot water over the whole thing. Bake the cake in a preheated 375°F oven for about 60 minutes, until it’s nicely browned on the top. Remove it from the oven, and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. Makes about 8 servings and is also delicious at room temperature. Pear Honey 3 lbs fresh pears — peeled,cored,and finely chopped 5 1/2 cups sugar 1 can crushed pineapple in juice — (8 ounce) 1 tablespoon lemon juice In a 6 quart stainless steel kettle combine all ingredients. Bring to boiling, stirring occasionally. Simmer 40 mins. Spoon into sterile jars, leaving a 1/2 inch head space. Wipe jar rims, adjust lids. Process in boiling water for 10 mins. Makes 7 half pints Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Pear and goat cheese pizza!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Thank you all, I have some great ideas now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmvaughan4 Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I add pears to my applesauce when making it and then freeze. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 We had a bumper crop of pears this year. I had hoped that they wouldn't all ripen. But they all ripened within two weeks of picking. So we poached them all (cooked in sugar and water). I make pear bread or pear muffins. You can freeze these. We can't can, because we have a flat surface stove. The second thing I did was put the pears in jars with a little alcohol (vodka, brandy whatever). About a tablespoon of alcohol to a quarter of pears and poaching liquid. These are delicious over ice cream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Paul, I got an email with this link tonight and thought of you and your prolific tree: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/09/organic-bartlett-pears/ HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 Paul, I got an email with this link tonight and thought of you and your prolific tree: http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2011/09/organic-bartlett-pears/ HTH! Thank you, now I'm really hungry now and I'm ready for bed. I can't wait to try some of these great ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate CA Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 You might also consider drying some in slices. They are quite good that way. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azmomx3 Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Make pie!! My husband has ALWAYS been an apple pie fanatic until last year when I ended up with a case of pears...I found this pie recipe on Allrecipes.com and pear pie is now his official favorite pie...it's awesome! http://allrecipes.com/recipe/fresh-pear-pie/detail.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live2Ride Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Pear sauce (or apple pear sauce), Pear butter (and we did apple pear butter) and canned pears are made here with ours. We have cooking pears though. Not fresh eating pears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Thank you, now I'm really hungry now and I'm ready for bed. I can't wait to try some of these great ideas. Anytime! :tongue_smilie: It did the same thing to me, and I don't even like pears :lol: Fortunately, I was in the middle of making banana bread, so at least I had something to nosh on. And may I say that I am sooo jealous! We don't get enough sun here to grow fruit-bearing anything :glare: I hope you can find a way to use every single one of your yummy bounty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I poach them in some butter and wine (better in a sweeter wine, but good in any kind), adding in some brown sugar to taste.... I also throw them in smoothies, but not too many because they'll just make pear-sauce.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 We always canned our pears, so I'm no help. Pear sauce is divine with pork, chicken, ham. Where is the lip-licking emoticon? Obviously, you could eat them until your digestive system protests. Give them away. Trade them for something else you need? Haircuts? Other produce at a farm stand? You are in MO now, right? There HAVE to be little old ladies with canning sets living right outside your door, Paula. When I lived in MO, every little old lady had a canning set, and they all knew how to can. Could you find such a little old lady, offer to can some pears with/for her, bake her a lovely pear pie, IN EXCHANGE for the use of her equipment and/or some lessons? When I lived in MO, there was this beautiful pear tree outside my house (not on my property). A little old lady -- Bessie B., aged 89 -- lived in the house next door, and I visited her every day. One day she said, "You know, Honey, that pear tree always had the juiciest, tastiest pears this time of year. I used to make the best pear pies, but I can't get out there to pick them now...." ;) She really did make the BEST pies EVER. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I keep thinking this thread has got to be a euphemism for something. But then, I look and - alas! No kilts! It really is about pears. Just the fruit. That's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 I keep thinking this thread has got to be a euphemism for something. But then, I look and - alas! No kilts! It really is about pears. Just the fruit. That's all. :lol: I went to a 9/11 memorial service, complete with bagpipe corps. I saw more KILTS than I have ever seen in my life. From the angle I had, it was evident that these kilts were VENTILATED... :glare: What size necks do you think those guys had? Wow. And the calf muscles. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginevra Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 :lol: I went to a 9/11 memorial service, complete with bagpipe corps. I saw more KILTS than I have ever seen in my life. From the angle I had, it was evident that these kilts were VENTILATED... :glare: What size necks do you think those guys had? Wow. And the calf muscles. :001_huh: See? Now it makes sense! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 My family loves red pears poached/baked in red wine, honey, cinnamon, and a little water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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