Gingered Pear Preserves - Yummy....

I decided I needed to get a little head start on holiday gifts.  Today I made Gingered Pear Preserves and can't wait to taste it.  In the photo below, you'll see a jar that isn't all the way full....well, that one is OURS!

I wasn't sure exactly how long to cook the mixture down.  I didn't want it to turn into cement, and I didn't want it to be runny like syrup.  Next time I'll probably add a little more lemon juice and lemon zest to make it a little thicker since I didn't use pectin.

Recipe includes candied ginger, fresh grated ginger, lemon juice, lemon zest and of course, pears and sugar.  I used a recipe I found online which belongs to Emeril.  I used less sugar than called for (as someone else had mentioned) and when I make it again, I will use even less sugar.  As it dripped and splattered all over my counters, I tasted it and it seemed way too sweet for my tastes.  But, perhaps the sweetness will have mellowed out a bit after the canning process.  You can find the recipe here if you are interested.  I got 6 and 1/2 half pint jars.  (Aren't those little squatty half pint jars just too cute?!  They are Ball jars I bought at Ace Hardware.)