We're Jammin'

We're Jammin:

I want to jam it wid you

We're jammin, jammin

And I hope you like jammin' too.

                                  -Bob Marley

It seems as if it has been forever since I posted. The passing of time always amazes me. It can drip unmercifully like a trickle from a spilt jar of molasses or it can flash in a blink of an eye.

The last two weeks have been filled with making my seasonal jams and preserves. I call this time "jam fest." To get into the holiday spirit, I start the week before Thanksgiving and kick out the jams, -------- (sorry about that...I had a bit of an MC5 flashback). By season's end I am guessing I will have made about 100 jars as I am still waiting for the persimmons to ripe.

  I had an unexpected surprise and added Spice Asian Pear to my repertoire. Our very good friends, Jeff and Young, honored us with a box of Korean Pears to enjoy over Thanksgiving weekend. For those of you who have never seen Korean Pears they are gianormous. Although delicious, we could not possibly eat that many. Since Jamapooloza was in full swing I transmuted these lovelies into some tasty preserves. Here is the recipe I used:

Spiced Asian Pear and Pineapple Jam

3 large Korean pears cut, peeled and cored or 8 cups of chopped ripe pears

1 can (16 oz) of crushed pineapple in own juices

5 cups of sugar

¼ cup of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of ginger

¼ teaspoon of clove

1 box of powdered pectin

1. Mix pears, pineapple, lemon juice and spices in heavy pot.

2. Cook over medium heat until pears become transparent.

3. Add pectin and bring to hard boil for 1 minute.

4. Add sugar and boil hard for 4 minutes.

5. Immediately transfer to sterilized jars.

6. Place in canning bath for 10-15 minutes.

More on my jam adventures in the next post!

Comments

[Mija]

jams makes my mouth water! the persimmon was my fave but they ALL were muy delicioso! wanna trade for some tamales?!

and your mail art is Kickin' BTW. as usual.

XO Mija

[J]

Look at the size of those pears! That's a new one on me - our asian pears are smaller than apples and crisply wonderful. Next door neighbor has a tree. But yours are ... super pears! I can recommend your blueberry Grand Marnier combo as the best thing that ever crossed my palate. I ate some on vanilla ice cream. It was over the moon. Happy jammin', you. xoxo

[Judy Wise]

That was me on the last comment BTW. TypePad gave me a new name. A new hip hop name - "J".

[Shari Beaubien]

Ooooh, Pilar... these sound and look just heavenly! Maybe one of these years you can teach me what to do in person!! xoxo, Shari

[Maija Lepore]

Oh my effing taste buds just did a twirl! The packaging is gorgeous, too!
PS - I saw Bear do his Everest thing this weekend. It rocked - got to see his sensitive side when he cried!