Sorry, prickly pear. Please pardon the spelling.

Lucky you!
My hubby loves them. Usually sautéing the pads then adding onions.
When softened thrown in with pinto beans or eggs.
Our veterinarian would make a free house call so he could
take the fruit to make jam.
Have fun.
Karen

This post was edited by Enterotoxigenic00 on Tue, Aug 12, 14 at 19:36

My mom makes candy with the fruit, it's delicious.

Love to juice the fruit.

Can you please share how to remove the needles off the pads? My variety has needles that look like hairs but stick in you like ouch!!!!

Hint: the glochids are flammable.

Seriously? You burn them off?
I have good luck removing them from the pads with a potato peeler. The first time I tried to hit just the prickers but then someone taught me to just peel nearly the whole pad. It's pretty easy that way.

I have no idea how to handle the fruit, or at what point its best to pick it. Should be soon though! They are kind of a mango color now.

Does anyone have advice for optimum timing to pick the fruit?