Name: Ginger Pear Freezer Jam
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 7 servings
Ingredients: 5-1/2 cups finely chopped peeled fresh pears (about 10 medium); 1 package (1-3/4 ounces) pectin for lower-sugar recipes; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; 1-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest; 1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot; 4 cups sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

At dinner with friends one evening, one of our hosts served some pears she had preserved with ginger and lemon. The flavor was so heavenly I decided to use the fresh pears she gave us to try my hand at a ginger and lemon freezer jam.—Jeni Pittard, Commerce, Georgia

Ingredients

5-1/2 cups finely chopped peeled fresh pears (about 10 medium)

1 package (1-3/4 ounces) pectin for lower-sugar recipes

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot

4 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1 Wash seven 1-cup plastic or freezer-safe containers with hot, soapy water. Dry thoroughly. In a Dutch oven, combine pears, pectin, lemon juice, lemon zest and ginger. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Stir in sugar. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in vanilla.

2 Remove from heat; skim off foam. Immediately fill all containers to within 1/2 in. of tops. Wipe off top edges of containers; immediately cover with lids. Let stand at room temperature 24 hours.

3 Jam is now ready to use. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze extra containers up to 12 months. Thaw frozen jam in refrigerator before serving.