This fruit spread-style peach jam can be made with no sugar at all, but we use 1 cup sugar for just a touch of sweetness (up to 3 cups sugar can be used for a sweeter jam). If you want to use glass canning jars, be sure to choose wide-mouth dual-purpose jars made for freezing and canning. These jars have been tempered to withstand extremes in temperature.
Simmering pears in pear nectar (available in the natural-foods section of supermarkets) and then reducing the puree until thickened produces an exceptionally rich-tasting spread that contains no added fat or sugar. It is a great item to have on hand; spread it on toast or layer it with vanilla yogurt and top with nuts for a quick dessert or snack. If you have a good supply of pears, feel free to double the recipe, using a large saucepan.
