Jam On at Holiday Craft Fairs

Jam-maker and journalist Barbara Kobsar is a regular at the Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market. Her featured recipe below is for Winter Pears in Red Wine Sauce.
Pear photo by onnoth, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20354001

 

For over 12 years, readers of Edible East Bay have enjoyed Barbara Kobsar’s “What’s In Season?” column. Meet Barbara at the Walnut Creek Farmers’ Market and several upcoming holiday craft and gift fairs, where she’ll be selling her Cottage Kitchen jams, pepper jellies, and apple pies made with local produce. At the fairs, you’ll also find a terrific assortment of gift items, including vintage clothing, jewelry, mosaics, art, hand-painted glass, kitchen crafts, pillows, confections, stocking stuffers, and home decor.
 
Serendipity in the Fall
Thursday October 18, 10am–7pm
Friday October 19, 9am–5pm
Saturday October 20, 9am–3pm
Alamo Women’s Club
1401 Danville Blvd, Alamo
Info: here
 
Artisan Faire
Friday November 9, 4–7:30pm
Orinda Country Club
315 Camino Sobrante, Orinda
 
The Gift Box Boutique
Friday-Sunday, November 16–18, 9am–4 pm daily
717 Navaronne Way, Concord (off of Treat Blvd.)
Info: here
 
Hacienda Holiday Faire
Friday November 30, noon–8 pm
Saturday & Sunday, December 1 & 2, 11am–6 pm
Hacienda de las Flores
2100 Donald Dr, Moraga
Info: here
 
 
Barbara Kobsar’s Winter Pears in Red Wine Sauce
A classic holiday dish

Serves 6
 
2 cups dry red wine
¾ cup fresh orange juice
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
½ cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick
6 Bosc or Anjou pears
Whipped cream (optional)
 
Combine wine, orange juice, lemon juice, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a large heavy saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.
 
Peel pears, leaving stems intact. Cut a small slice from the bottom of the pear (so it stands upright). Place pears on their sides in prepared syrup. Cover and simmer until pears are just tender (10–15 minutes). Turn pears once during the cooking time.
 
Use a slotted spoon to remove pears from cooking liquid and place upright in a dish. Boil cooking liquid until reduced to ¾ cup. Discard cinnamon stick. Cover and chill sauce and pears. Place pears on individual serving plates, spoon sauce over top, and add a dollop of whipped cream if desired.