This chutney will help to introduce your child to new spices. Chutney is a nice condiment served with pork. Try offering it to your toddler as a dip or even on a grilled cheese sandwich.

• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 whole 2-inch cinnamon stick
• 1 whole clove
• 2 lbs firm-ripe pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (about 5 pears)
• 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
• 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt

Combine the sugar, apple juice, vinegar, cayenne pepper, cinnamon stick and clove in a large, heavy-duty saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in the pears, onion, crystallized ginger and 1/4 tsp. of salt. Reduce the heat to medium low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is soft and the liquid has reduced somewhat, about 35-40 minutes. Uncover and continue to simmer until the liquid has almost evaporated, about 10 minutes more. Remove the cinnamon stick and clove.

Recipe Yields: 9 Servings

If you’re not canning the chutney, let cool and divide among 3 clean 8-oz. jars, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Visit this site for some  helpful information on canning.

Storage Time: 1 week in the refrigerator

In addition to tasting really good, ginger helps to aid digestion.