Pear Relish (NC) Recipe

1 peck peeled pears (a peck equals 2 gallons, or 1/4 of a bushel)
4 green bell peppers
4 red bell peppers
4 hot chile peppers
5 medium onions
2 pounds sugar
5 cups cider vinegar
1 tablespoon salt

Process, or finely chop pears, peppers and onions. Place in a large kettle and add remaining ingredients. Add spices to taste. Boil 40 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. Yield: 12 pints.

Carefully follow the canning directions supplied with your jars to guarantee sterile jars, well-sealed flavor and a long shelf life.

Tips From Our Test Kitchen: For a chutney-styled relish, add a combination of dry mustard, cumin, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Add 1 tablespoon of each spice except the cloves. Add only 1 teaspoon of cloves. When the relish is cooked, add 2 cups of golden raisins, if desired. This relish also is delicious with East Indian food.