Pears are about ready to be picked. Hubby brought in 5 or 6 and some were hard as a rock, so we have time yet to pick them. Thank goodness.
Two of them were ripe however, so I used one to can carrot cake jam for the first time. Using our homegrown carrots, a home grown pear, and a few purchased ingredients. I used this recipe: Carrot Cake Jam.
It uses the same amount of sugar that most recipes online require, but a mix of white granulated and brown sugar. I have wanted to try this recipe for years, but put it off. We didn't get any carrots last year either. I can't remember why, but we didn't get beets or carrots.
The jam was made and we tasted it last night. Oh my! We tried it on a cracker with cream cheese. It tastes just like carrot cake. YUM!!
The first dig of carrots brought in just shy of 10#. Most went into the freezer. To freeze, I peel, slice and place into this metal basket (a recycled deep fryer type basket). I bring a pot of water to boil, lower the metal basket of veggies into the hot water for 2 minutes. I then remove, and lower the basket (you can simply drop the carrots into the hot water and scoop out with a strainer too) into a large bowl of water and ice for 2 minutes. I drain them, and freeze them.
I used 2 cups shredded for the jam. There are a few small stragglers that are in the fridge for snacking and whatnot. I'm so glad I didn't dig the entire row in one day (exhausted from this dig alone).
I used 2 cups shredded for the jam. There are a few small stragglers that are in the fridge for snacking and whatnot. I'm so glad I didn't dig the entire row in one day (exhausted from this dig alone).
Until the next dig...
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