Colorado Pear Sauce

Colorado summers are simply the best.  In the summertime and fall, we are blessed with the juiciest peaches, most delicious pears, and the sweetest apples.

This year we got a canning share from Ela Family Farms on the Western Slope of Colorado.  A canning share is like a CSA.  The only difference is that you get fruit and veggies in bulk- think 20lbs at a time- and they are #2s, meaning they aren't as pretty as the ones in the store.  Perfect for canning and preserving!

All "jammed" out, I decided to make a pear sauce with our recent 20lbs of pears.  Think applesauce with pears...

It is really simple to make your own fruit sauces:

• Clean and cube up a looottt of pears.
• Cook pears in a large pot.  Start by boiling than reduce to a simmer for 1-2 hours, until skins start to fall off the fruit.
• Blend with an immersion blender or a standard blender.  At this time add cinnamon if desired.  I like to keep the the sauce a little chunky.
• Fill mason jars with cooked pears.  I use the larger ones for sauces.  Close the lids- but not crazy tight.  Rule of thumb is to close jars with one hand until jar spins.
• Fill a hug pot with water and bring to a boil.  Place jars of pear sauce in boiling water so they are completely submerged.  Let jars sit in the rolling boil water bath for 20 mins.
• Pull out jars and allow to cool until you hear a "pop".  This indicates a sealed jar!