Pickled Pears

Ingredients

• 4 slightly unripe, firm Bartlett pears
• 3 1⁄2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 4 cups cane sugar
• 1 Tbs whole allspice berries
• 10 cloves
• 1 tsp whole peppercorns
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1⁄2 tsp ground ginger
• grated peel of 1 orange
• 1 small slice of a raw beet

Instructions

1. 1

   --- Directions ---

2. 2

   Bring all ingredients except pears to a simmer in a meidium saucepan.

3. 3

   Peel pears. Slice pears in half lengthwise and then the slice the halves lengthwise into 3 slices each making a total of 6 slices from each pear.

4. 4

   Once the liquid and spices are simmering and the sugar is dissolved, add pears.

5. 5

   Keep the pears on the stovetop in the pickling liquid for about 10 minutes, return to a simmer until the pears are slightly soft.

6. 6

   Remove pears with a slotted spoon and place in a warm jar. We used old spaghetti sauce glass jars that we sterilized in the dishwasher and then brought back to a warm temperature by microwaving for 30 seconds.

7. 7

   Once the liquid has cooled to just a slightly warm temperature, pour it over the pears in the jar, place the top on and refrigerate. The pears will keep for 2 weeks.