Fall really bugs me!

It should be cool, but it's not.

So, when I get all the great fruit I want to put in jars and preserve, it's 110 degrees outside and probably hotter in my kitchen.

Nevertheless, I still do it.

This weekend was pears. I was dreading it. I hate peeling the most. It's a lot of work. So, I decided to try something a little different.

I got out my apple slicer/corer/peeler, took off the part that slices and cores the apple and just used the peeler.

It worked great! Luckily my pears were on the firm side. If they were any mushier, it probably wouldn't have worked.

Then I quartered them and cut out the core before putting them in a water/fruit fresh mixture to keep them nice and bright.

Then into the jars they went. They have interesting ridges left from the peeler. I just call them my fancy pears. There was a little of the peeling left on some, but it didn't bother me.

I covered them with a very light syrup (sugar and water) then into the water bath for 25 min.

They look really good! Out of the box I got 22 quart jars (and a few left for eating). I figured it cost me $1.84/jar. That cost will go down as I re-use my jars. I think it was totally worth it.

I also did Peaches, dried apples, made jerky and canned chicken.

I'm done for a while.

The best part is now my cupboards are full and ready for winter (ha)!