Pear Chutney

Directions

1. 1
   Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 5 8-ounce or 10 4-ounce canning jars and their lids.
2. 2
   Peel the zest from the lemon with a vegetable peeler and set aside.
3. 3
   Squeeze the lemon.
4. 4
   Place the juice in a large bowl.
5. 5
   Peel pears, core them and cut into 1-inch to 2-inch chunks.
6. 6
   Place in the bowl with lemon juice, toss to coat with the juice and reserve.
7. 7
   Place the lemon zest, onion, ginger slices, and garlic in the work bowl of a food processor.
8. 8
   Process until coarsely chopped.
9. 9
   Scrape into a 2 1/2-quart souffle dish.
10. 10
    Add spices, salt and sugar.
11. 11
    Cook, uncovered, in a 650- to 700-watt oven at 100 percent power for 5 minutes.
12. 12
    Remove from oven and stir well.
13. 13
    Add reserved pears with any lemon juice in the bottom of the bowl.
14. 14
    Stir in remaining ingredients except water chestnuts and additional lemon juice.
15. 15
    Cover tightly with microwave-oven plastic wrap.
16. 16
    Cook at 100 percent power for 10 minutes or until pears are tender when pierced with a knife.
17. 17
    Leaving dish in oven, prick plastic to release steam and uncover.
18. 18
    Stir in water chestnuts.
19. 19
    Re-cover and cook at 100 percent power for 2 minutes.
20. 20
    Remove from oven.
21. 21
    Prick plastic to release steam and uncover.
22. 22
    Stir in lemon juice and divide chutney among sterilized jars.
23. 23
    Store, tightly covered and refrigerated, for up to six months.