Pear Butter

Place pears in a large crock pot and cook on low for about 12 hours, or until very soft (i.e. you can easily mash them with a fork or large spoon.) The low and slow cooking of the crock pot allows the pears to cook without added water. To cook on a stove top, add water and decrease cooking time as needed.

When pears are done, drain them (the pears have a very high water content and even though there was no water added to the crock pot, a lot will cook out of the pears). Add sugar and spices and cook for an additional 1 to 2 hours.

Mash to desired consistency before packing into half-pint jars (this recipe will make about 8 half-pints). Process in a boiling water canner for 20 minutes.