Dried Pears Recipes

SLOW COOKED WINTER BREAD PUDDING WITH DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• If bread is not stale: Preheat an oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the bread cubes out on a baking sheet and cook until toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Whisk the half-and-half, eggs, sugar, whiskey, vanilla, salt and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Toss bread cubes and dried fruit together and place into the slow cooker. Pour custard over top and press down lightly until all bread is covered with custard.
• Cover and cook on LOW until pudding puffs and is just set, about 3 1/2 hours. Remove insert from the slow cooker and cool on a rack, about 20 minutes.
• Spoon pudding into large cups or bowls and sprinkle each serving with cinnamon sugar, and toasted nuts. Top with whipped cream or yogurt, if desired.

OVEN-DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 225 degrees. Line a pan with parchment. Cut each pear lengthwise into 1/8- to 1/4- inch-thick slices. Remove seeds and fibrous bits from each slice; arrange on pan, spaced 1/2 to 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with sugar.
• Transfer to oven; dry until pears become firmer, slightly chewy, and shriveled around edges, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to 2 days or frozen, up to 6 weeks.

DRIED PEAR BREAD

Steps:

• Cover dried pears with 2 c.
• hot water and let soak 30 minutes.
• Drain pears and snip into small pieces.
• Sift dry ingredients together (except sugar).
• Combine in another bowl sugar, butter, egg, 1/4 c.
• water and orange juice.
• Mix well; add dry ingredients.
• Stir in pears and pecans.
• Pour mixture into a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan, which has been lightly greased and floured.
• Bake at 350F for 55-60 minutes.
• Cool 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan and cool completely on rack.
• Makes 1 loaf.
• May be frozen.

DRIED PEARS

Steps:

• Combine water and sugar in a pot on high heat. Bring to a boil and boil for 3 minutes or until a light syrup forms. Add lemon juice and reduce heat to low. Continue to cook until the syrup is barely simmering.
• Preheat oven to 200°F.
• Slice pears into 1/8 inch (3mm) slices lengthwise. Use either a serrated knife or a mandoline. Add pear slices to the sugar syrup and poach for 3 to 4 minutes or until the cslices are slightly translucent.
• Remove slices with a slotted spoon and drain any syrup back into the pot. Place pear slices on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place in the miffle of oven and dry for 2 hours or until they are firm but with a little flexibiilty and not quite dry to the touch.
• Cool and store pear slices in an airtight tin.

ROASTED PEARS AND DRIED FRUIT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, whisk together apple cider, 2 tablespoons sugar, and butter. Add pears, dried cherries, prunes, and lemon zest and juice; toss to combine.
• Cover with aluminum foil, and bake 15 minutes; remove foil and continue to bake, tossing once, until fruit is tender and beginning to brown, 20 to 25 minutes more.
• In a small bowl, whisk together sour cream and remaining tablespoon sugar. Serve warm, or at room temperature, with sweetened sour cream.