Pear Butter

I found pears at our local orchard that were on sale because they were over ripe. I have been wanting to make pear butter ever since I read my great great grandmother's diary (her name was Susan Herr Groff) from 1920 and she wrote that she made pear butter. On November 30th the diary says, "Cloudy. Esther (my great grandma) and Nora went to Lancaster. Nora went down to help Mary this afternoon. Esther was sewing at her dress this P.M. Susan ironed some this A.M. We were paring pears and boiled them for pear butter." Then on Dec. 1st it says, "Rained. We boiled pear butter and finished ironing..." What a treasure!
Pear butter is like apple butter, which I've had many times, but is made with pears.  I love added spices until I love the taste.  It is delicious on top of bread or with cottage cheese!

Pear Butter
4 to 5 lbs. of chopped pears, do not peel or core them (remove any bruised or damaged parts)
2 1/2 c. water
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
3 c. raw sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cardamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Equipment needed:
8 quart pot
food mill or chinois

1. Put chopped pears into large pot with water and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then simmer until pears are soft (25-40min). Ladle pears into food mill (removing seeds)
3. Put puree, sugar, and spices into pot and stir to dissolve sugar.
4. Cook on med. heat, stirring often, so the puree doesn't burn. (45 min-2 hours) It should get thick and not runny.
5. You could then sterilize jars and can the pear butter in a hot water bath for 10 min. with 1/4 inch head space. Or, just put in jars and refrigerate.