Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and Pears, Oh My!!

Page heard my plea for help and sent a recipe for cucumbers as well as one for tomatoes that sound fab-u-lous!

3 large cucumbers, peeled, thinly sliced
1 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon
salt
dash ground cayenne pepper
dash dried parsley flakes
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
dash dried leaf basil

Preparation:Combine all ingredients except cucumbers; heat until sugar melts. Pour warm mixture over cucumbers. Store covered in refrigerator.
Serves 6 to 8
Serve with pork or as a relish with any meal.
That sounds really good!

BRUSCHETTA CON POMODORI (GARLIC BREAD WITH TOMATOES)
6 slices crusty Italian bread, halved crosswise
1 lg. garlic clove, crushed and minced
4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
6 lg. firm ripe tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
Salt and pepper
1/4 c. minced fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar, or to taste

Preheat the broiler. Arrange the slices of bread on a baking sheet and broil 5 inches from the heat until lightly browned. Turn and brown the other side. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, and 3 tablespoon of the olive oil, and brush the mixture on one side of the bread slices. In a skillet, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat, add the tomatoes and salt the tomatoes are just heated through. Stir in the basil and vinegar. Top the toasted slices with the tomato mixture. Serves 6.
Yum!

Page also requested a recipe for Pear Honey because they are going to be covered up in pears pretty soon.

3lbs. ripe pears (9 cups) ~ I use the crunchy "sand" pears. That's what we've always called them.
1 cup crushed pineapple
grated rind and juice of one lime
5 cups of sugar

Peel and core pears before measuring. Put through a food chopper using a fine blade. Combine pears and pineapple. Add lime juice and zest. Add sugar and cook over slow heat, stirring frequently for 20 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars to 1/4 of top. Put on cap, screw band tightly. Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Yields 8 1/2 pints.
Put this over french toast and it is heaven!

Hope everyone enjoys these recipes!