Every year I try to come up with some great Homemade gift items. So for the holiday season of 2010, I have come up with a strict Straight from the Farm theme. I purchase as little as possible but some things can not be avoided so it is not 100%, but close to it.
The first item in the basket is Wine poached pears. I have had 2 fridge drawers full of these things, waiting for them to get to the right stage of ripening & after a month, they are finally there. I used the recipe from the book "Food for Friends" by Sally Pasley Vargas. She has so many great ideas & recipes in there for gift giving. This one was perfect for using up the pears we were able to reach from our "new to us" 60 foot tall trees.
They look so beautiful in their wine caramelized sauce. To enhance their appearance, I used these great jars from Leifheit. They truly add that dimension of gourmet food presentation and add that extra special look you should strive for in food gifts. The picture does not do justice to their appearance in person. I wish I would have prepared more pears to fill the jars more. There are 6 pear halves in each.
The first item in the basket is Wine poached pears. I have had 2 fridge drawers full of these things, waiting for them to get to the right stage of ripening & after a month, they are finally there. I used the recipe from the book "Food for Friends" by Sally Pasley Vargas. She has so many great ideas & recipes in there for gift giving. This one was perfect for using up the pears we were able to reach from our "new to us" 60 foot tall trees.
They look so beautiful in their wine caramelized sauce. To enhance their appearance, I used these great jars from Leifheit. They truly add that dimension of gourmet food presentation and add that extra special look you should strive for in food gifts. The picture does not do justice to their appearance in person. I wish I would have prepared more pears to fill the jars more. There are 6 pear halves in each.
I went with the 2 cup jars, in hindsight, I should have gone with the 1 cup size. That way, I would have had 6 jars filled instead of 3. I highly encourage you to stay away from the everyday canning jars. Add the gourmet look to your basket with these not so ordinary jars. If the recipient is not a canner, I add a little tag that reads" Please return empty jar for next years refill". When purchasing the gourmet jars, do not feel guilt over the tag. Think of it as a way to save them from the landfill. Look at it as being green. Your recipients will not see it as rude.
Here is the recipe along with items I used in place of ones marked with a * .
Pears in red wine sauce *a water-bath canning recipe*
2 cups sugar
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 bottles (750ml) of red wine * I used King fish California Merlot-on sale $6 each
6 lbs Bartlett pears (or other firm pears) Peeled & halved, remove seed pith area with a spoon or melon baller.
2 Vanilla beans * I used 2 tablespoons Williams Sonoma Vanilla bean paste
1/2 teaspoon Black peppercorns
8 Bay leaves
~Mix the lemon juice & sugar in heavy bottom large pan/stock pot. (The acid of the lemon helps keep the sugar from crystallizing).Stir with a wooden spoon over medium heat until liquefies & amber in color-*I have a gas range, so I put it on low heat since it seems to be hotter then electric settings.
Turn off heat and stir briefly to cool slightly.
Now stand back a little w/ wooden spoon handy to gently pop any uprising bubbles, pour in 2 cups of red wine slowly, a little at a time. remember , you are adding a cool liquid to very hot "caramelized" solid. It may splatter & bubble, which can cause burns. be sure to stir this together. If any sugar clumps appear, just turn the heat back on & stir to dissolve as much as possible.
Drop the peeled,halved & cored pears into the wine sauce.
Return to a boil on medium low heat, then reduce heat & let simmer 10 minutes or until tender, able to pierce easily with knife.
With slotted spoon, remove pears and place in colander which is sitting over a bowl(for catching any draining liquid). Add your vanilla bean seed (scraped from pods) or your Vanilla seed paste.
Add the peppercorns & bay leaves plus any liquid from the draining pears.
Bring to vigorous boil & boil briskly for 15-20 minutes until syrupy & reduced to 4 1/2 cups liquid.
I use a spoon with strainer to remove the peppercorns & bay leaves. Or you can strain through a mesh cloth into a bowl since you do not want these in your canning jars.
When pears are cool enough to handle, place into clean pint size jars, with flat sides down or arranged in upright fashion for an even more attractive display. Fill jars 3/4 full of pears.
Reheat the syrup if necessary, pour the hot liquid over your pears (be sure to use canning funnel if you have one, to keep rims clean). Leave 1/2 inch head space.
Gently agitate or use skewer to remove any air bubbles. Seal & process in a water bath canner for 25 minutes. Store away from light in cool place for up to 1 year.
I was in mid process of this recipe when I could not find my wine bottle opener anywhere. (that is normal in my house. I am sure they grew legs and ended up in someones kitchen play area).
I had to get those bottles opened since the sugar/lemon was at the point of caramelizing. A handy skill I read of online came to mind and I put it to use.
So, if you do not have a wine bottle opener handy or just want to try this because.....well it's just cool and impressive. Check out the short (very informal) video of my opening a corked wine bottle with a shoe. Just think, should you ever be out somewhere and want to impress a lady or man with some mad skill, this will surely bring bonus points.
Excuse my voice & appearance. I still have the stuffy nose and have been putting in the garden cover crop of Winter rye and other outdoor Fall cleaning.
My over excitement & surprise show how dorky I can be while hanging out with Panda in the kitchen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJqQyIeXP-c
After all, kitchen skills are becoming a lost art with our youth and making it fun keeps them interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJqQyIeXP-c
After all, kitchen skills are becoming a lost art with our youth and making it fun keeps them interested.
Stay tuned for the next parts of the Straight from the farm Gift basket ideas. We will be making Pear honey to can, Some herb dry rub for roast chicken & also share how you can make an easy herb pot out of clay for storing that dry rub. Followed by how to pit fire the clay creation in your own backyard-no special material needed...other then the stone clay which I will share where you can find it locally along with fire wood and some brick.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie
Disclaimer: I am in no way liable, nor are any affiliates for ANY outcome, injuries, mental duress or other affliction from your attempting any of the above. Please use common sense and be responsible with all actions/outcomes. Feel free, of course, to make me responsible for the delight it will bring with positive success & any bonus points.
Sweet dreams,
~Tammie
Disclaimer: I am in no way liable, nor are any affiliates for ANY outcome, injuries, mental duress or other affliction from your attempting any of the above. Please use common sense and be responsible with all actions/outcomes. Feel free, of course, to make me responsible for the delight it will bring with positive success & any bonus points.
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