Sugar Free Pear Butter

This is one of those things that you may not be craving in July, but you will be glad you made this...trust me!  I usually associate pear butter and its required spices with fall.  If you wait to fall there will be no pears in our "neck of the woods".  Now is the time!

I started making and canning Pear Butter several years ago when on my neighborhood walks I noticed that many folks around here have pear trees yet don't use the pears.  Folks are very willing to share pears.  Often they are a nuisance...having to be picked up so the lawn mower does not choke:-)  The man clan went hiding when on one particular stroll I went to a strangers front door and asked if they minded sharing their pears...they were compensated with Pear Butter and they were glad they shared! Now that folks know I make pear butter....I have several pear sources...It is a "good thing"!!!

1 cup  Lemon Juice
about 10 large pears
1 1/3 cups white grape juice
4 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground allspice
16-24 pkt stevia

• In a large bowl combine water and 1/4 cup lemon juice to prevent browning (not really necessary since pear butter is brown anyway)  but if it grieves you to see the pears browning as you peel and cut them...pour on the lemon juice.
• Peel, core and quarter the pears
• Drain the pears
• Place pears in crockpot with grape juice, 3/4 cup lemon juice.  Walk away, ignore it.  Have some lovely herbal tea with a friend....take the kids swimming...you name it!  The thing I love about this recipe is that gone are the days of stewing down the pears and worrying that them may burn or stick...the crockpot makes it sooooo easy.
• So when the pears are tender, the house is smelling wonderful and the thought of pancakes for supper strike you...because after all stewed pears on pancakes are just wonderful.  The pears are probably ready to be pureed.
• Lift the pears out of their juice.  The juice can be saved and used for spiced hot "pear cider".
• I use my blender. Puree the pears.
• Add spices.  Add stevia...about 18 pkt is what I have used in the past.  I have not converted this to the spoonable, because I have packets and I have not wanted to "experiment" once I took the time to peel, core and cut all those pears.  If I do, I will update this...so for now if you get the stevia packets from Walmart that have fiber too....the 18 pkts is accurate.
• Put the pureed pears back in the crockpot.....minor detail....DO NOT PUT THE LID ON YOUR CROCKPOT!  Cover with a splatter guard.  Turn it on high and let it stew down...to a thick delicious spreadable consistency.....YUMMY!  Now you will be craving waffles for breakfast!