Vanilla Pears: A New Winter Memory

With Susan, on her newly found obsession of canning, I'm learning so much about which things come with what season. It's amazing what simple things we take for granted, like fruit. I grew up with apple and pear trees in my grandparents yard. There really didn't seem to be anything special about it, at the time. But now we rent a car and drive upstate and pay people to let us pick their fruit (this sounds abserd just typing it).

Well now with my appreciation and understanding, I savor what we have. Recently, Susan picked up some pears to can, since they're in season. She made her light syrup and then added a vanilla bean to each jar. If that doesn't make you salivate, the golden pear color will. I'm not sure if I want to photograph their beauty or eat them. Well I guess I already photographed them…

I think without knowing it we may have created a new winter memory. A tradition I would like to repeat year after year. Maybe there is something to this canning craze?

Comments

[Marjorie]

Hello William,

I just found your website via Design*Sponge. Love your photo of the vanilla pears and would love to make some. Can you please share the recipe?

Wishing you all the best for the New Year.

[Susan Brinson]

Hi Marjorie, Susan (William's wife) here! I used a canning cook book called Canning & Preserving with Ashley English.

Here is a link: http://www.amazon.com/Homemade-Living-Canning-Preserving-Chutneys/dp/1600594913

One of the chapters of the book talks about canning whole fruit, and I followed those directions using a medium syrup. I have only canned whole fruit once (the pears) and it seems there are little things to watch out for when canning whole fruit that the book covers. I added half a vanilla bean to some and a cinnamon stick to others. I would recommend that book because not only does it cover whole fruit, but some of my favorite recipes like peach and lavender butter and apple chutney.

Good luck canning and thanks for stopping by!