Golden Pears Recipes

GOLDEN PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Combine the maple syrup, sugar, butter, vanilla and cinnamon in a medium saucepan.
• Over medium heat cook the syrup, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved.
• Set aside.
• Peel the pears, cut in half lengthwise and core.
• Place in a 3 quart baking dish.
• Pour on the syrup, turning pears to coat.
• Bake in the pre heated oven for 20-25 minutes or until pears are just soft.
• Turn the pears a few times to coat and remove to a baking sheet.
• Add a little water to thin the syrup and set aside.
• Place one slice of cheese on each pear half.
• Combine the 1/4 cup coconut with the brown sugar and butter.
• Mix well.
• Sprinkle on top of pears and cheese.
• Broil until the cheese is melted and the topping is a nice golden brown.
• Place two halves on a dessert plate and drizzle syrup on top.
• Repeat with the remaining halves.
• Serve warm.

PEAR AND GOLDEN RAISIN CRISP

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cut together the topping ingredients with 2 knives until they are well combined and crumbly. Be sure the butter is evenly distributed in the mixture. If desired, freeze for up to 3 months, or use immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In another large mixing bowl, combine the sugar and the tapioca and toss until evenly mixed. Add the pears and toss until they are evenly coated with the mixture. Mix in the raisins. Turn the fruit mixture into a 10 x 2 inch deep round baking dish, preferably glass. Sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top and bake the crisp for 15 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375 degrees. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes more, or until the topping is golden. Cool on a rack for 10 minutes, then serve warm accompanied by a dollop of Crema, if desired.
• Whisk the cream and the buttermilk together in a bowl. Cover and set in a warm place (a gas oven with just the heat from the pilot light is fine) for 8 hours. Crema may be kept in the refrigerator for as long as a week.

GOLDEN PEAR CREAM PUFFS

Steps:

• Peel and core pears, and cut into 1/2- inch pieces. Place in a steamer rack set over a pot of boiling water, and cook until soft, about 15 minutes. Let cool. Puree in a blender until completely smooth.
• Whisk egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk in cornstarch. Heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium- high heat just until bubbles begin to form, about 3 minutes. Using a ladle, gradually add hot milk to the yolk mixture, whisking constantly. Return mixture to pan; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble and becomes very thick, about 8 minutes. Using a wooden spoon, scrape bottom and sides of pan occasionally as mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
• Pour through a large-mesh sieve into a bowl. Add butter; stir until butter has melted. Add pear puree; stir to combine. Place plastic wrap directly on surface; refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Put heavy cream into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into pastry cream.
• Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain round tip (such as Ateco #802). Poke a small hole in the bottom of each pastry puff with a skewer. Fill puffs with pastry cream. Arrange 4 cream puffs on each plate in a pyramid. Spoon about 4 warm caramel pear slices over each serving, and drizzle with sauce.

GOLDEN PEAR CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Cook the pears in water to cover until they are medium-soft. Drain, saving the water, then make a syrup of the water in which the pears were cooked and the brown sugar by boiling in a large nonreactive pot until thick, about 20 to 30 minutes. While the syrup is boiling, add the remaining ingredients to the pears, then mix everything together and cook for about 30 minutes or until the raisins are softened, the onions are transparent, and the chutney has a good thick consistency. Transfer to sterilized jars and seal; process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.