Pear Gelée Recipes

POACHED PEARS BELLE HELENE

Steps:

• Place water in a heavy pot. Stir in zest and juice of 1 lemon. Place pears in pot. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds. Add the seeds and split pods to the poaching liquid. Pour in sugar.
• Bring pot to a simmer over medium-high heat; stir gently to dissolve sugar with minimal jostling of the pears. Reduce heat so pears continue cooking over a steady, gentle simmer. Pears need to stay submerged, so place a small plate over them in the pot to keep them under the liquid. Simmer until pears are just tender, 20 to 25 minutes. (Remove plate to test the pears for doneness.) Remove pot from heat and let pears cool to room temperature in the poaching liquid.
• Transfer pears and vanilla beans to a storage container and cover with some of the poaching liquid. Cover and refrigerate until pears are thoroughly chilled, several hours or overnight. Reserve all of the poaching liquid (see footnote).
• Heat hot fudge sauce in a saucepan over medium heat until warm. Dip base of pear into the chocolate and spoon chocolate along the sides except for the top inch or so of the pear.
• Place dipped pears in individual serving bowls with another generous spoonful of syrup and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.

LEMON AND BLOOD ORANGE GELéE PARFAITS

Steps:

• Get out six 6- or 8-ounce glasses (I use 6-ounce tumblers that taper out from the bottom).
• Make the lemon layer. Place the gelatin in a medium bowl and pour in 1/4 cup of the water. Allow the gelatin to sit and "bloom" for 10 minutes. Combine the remaining water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a bare simmer. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and remove from the heat. Pour over the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin has dissolved. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour about an inch into each of the glasses. Place in the refrigerator until set, about 1 hour.
• Make the blood orange gelée. Juice all but one of the oranges and strain. Juice the remaining orange, strain out the seeds but not the pulp, and add to the strained juice. Place the gelatin in a medium bowl and pour in 1/4 cup of the water. Allow the gelatin to sit and "bloom" for 10 minutes. Combine the remaining water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a bare simmer. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and remove from the heat. Pour over the gelatin mixture and stir until the gelatin has dissolved. Stir in the orange juice. Make sure that the lemon layers are set and fill the tumblers with the orange juice mixture. If you want, you can make different patterns, alternating stripes of orange and yellow, but you will have to allow each layer to set before you add the next one. Refrigerate for several hours, until set.

CRANBERRY-PEAR FRUIT JELLIES

Steps:

• Rinse pan with water and shake dry. Line bottom and sides of pan with plastic wrap, pressing into bottom and corners of pan to smooth. (Water helps the plastic wrap adhere.)
• Quarter and core pears, then cut into 1/2-inch pieces. (Do not peel.)
• Bring pears, cranberries, water, 2 3/4 cups sugar, butter, and cinnamon stick to a boil in a 4- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until cranberries burst and pears are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard cinnamon stick, then carefully transfer hot mixture to a food processor and purée until smooth, about 1 minute. (Mixture will be thick). Force through a medium-mesh sieve back into same pot, pressing on solids with back of a spoon and discarding solids.
• Put a plate in freezer to chill.
• Bring cranberry mixture to a boil over high heat and add pectin. Reduce heat to moderate and cook, stirring frequently, until very thick and pastelike, about 45 minutes. To test, remove from heat, then drop a teaspoonful on chilled plate and chill in freezer 1 minute. Tilt plate: Mixture should remain in a firm mound and not run. If mixture runs, continue cooking and stirring and repeat test every 5 minutes.
• Remove from heat and immediately pour mixture into prepared pan. Gently tap sides of pan to smooth top and eliminate any air bubbles.
• Cool to room temperature, at least 1 hour, then cover surface directly with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 2 hours and up to 1 week.
• Unmold fruit mixture onto a cutting board and remove plastic wrap. Cut into 1-inch squares using a sharp knife. (For easier cutting, rinse knife with hot water, then dry it between cuts.)
• Just before serving, spread remaining cup sugar in a shallow bowl and coat squares on all sides.

PEAR GELéE

Steps:

• Run a 9 x 12-inch rimmed baking sheet under cold water and shake off the excess. Line the damp pan neatly with plastic wrap. (The water will help the plastic stick to the pan.)
• Put the water in a small bowl and sprinkle with the gelatin. Let sit for at least 1 minute. Microwave for 30 seconds or heat gently in a saucepan until melted.
• Combine the simple syrup and eau-de-vie in a large measuring cup. Add the gelatin and whisk for about 45 seconds. Whisk in the zest.
• Pour into the baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to set. To serve, turn out onto a cutting board and cut into small squares. Or use a whisk to break the gelée up into irregular shapes.