#spiceddelight

A delightful and aromatic pear butter with the sweetness of honey and a hint of ginger and spices. Perfect for spreading on breakfast treats or using as a flavorful topping.

Ingredients: 5 lbs ripe pears, peeled, cored, and chopped. 1 cup honey. 1/2 cup granulated sugar. 1/4 cup fresh ginger, grated. 1/4 cup lemon juice. 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon. 1/4 tsp ground cloves.

Instructions: Place the chopped pears in a large pot over medium heat. Add honey, granulated sugar, and grated ginger to the pot. Stir well to combine. Cook the mixture for about 10 minutes until the pears start to soften, stirring occasionally. Add lemon juice, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves to the pot. Stir again. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally until it thickens and turns into a butter-like consistency. Remove from heat and allow it to cool slightly. Use an immersion blender or food processor to puree the mixture until smooth. Pour the pear butter into sterilized jars and seal them. Process the sealed jars in a hot water bath for 10 minutes to ensure proper preservation. Allow the jars to cool before storing in a cool, dark place. Enjoy your homemade Honey Ginger Pear Butter on toast, biscuits, or as a delicious condiment!

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 120 minutes

Warm spices abound in these homemade Speculoos cookies. They're a holiday favorite and go well with tea or coffee.

Ingredients: 1 cup butter, softened. 1 cup granulated sugar. 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed. 2 cups all-purpose flour. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg. 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger. 1/2 teaspoon baking soda. 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Instructions: In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix. Form the cookie dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350F 175C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.