Pears With Almond And Chantilly Cream Recipes

PEAR CRISP WITH ALMONDS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• 2.Pears: Cut pears in half and then into thin slices. Put them in a large bowl and toss with the brown sugar, lemon juice and zest to blend, set aside.
• 3. Topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add the butter and almonds and break them up with your fingers integrating the dry ingredients with the butter and nuts.
• 4. Grease the bottom and sides of a shallow square baking dish (8 square inches) with the remaining tablespoon of butter. Layer the pears in the dish and top evenly with the nut topping. Place the dish in the center of the oven and bake until the pears are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife. The topping should be golden brown as well, about 40-45 minutes. Set aside to cool a few minutes before serving.

PEARS WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until golden brown and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Whip the cream with an electric beater until it is thickened. Add the sugar and continue beating until soft peaks are formed. Gently fold in the yogurt and almond extract. The cream will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for 2 days.
• Core and slice the pears and arrange slices of half a pear on each serving plate. Top each with 3 tablespoons of the cream and sprinkle with almonds.

ROASTED PEARS WITH ALMOND CRUNCH

Steps:

• Make almond crunch:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Whisk together egg white, sugar, and salt until sugar is completely dissolved, then add almonds, stirring until coated. Spread mixture in a very thin layer on parchment-lined sheet, spreading almonds away from center of pan.
• Bake until deep golden, 15 to 25 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack, then break into pieces.
• Roast pears:
• Increase oven temperature to 425°F.
• Halve pears lengthwise and core with melon-ball cutter or a paring knife.
• Spread 1 tablespoon butter on bottom of an 8-inch square glass baking dish and sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar.
• Arrange pears, cut sides up, on sugar, then dot pears with remaining tablespoon butter. Sprinkle remaining tablespoon sugar over pears, then drizzle with 1 tablespoon Amaretto.
• Roast pears, uncovered, until barely tender, about 25 minutes (sugar will harden on bottom).
• Add water, a pinch of salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons Amaretto to baking dish and stir (around pears) until sugar is dissolved, then baste pears with pan juices.
• Roast pears, basting twice with pan juices, until tender, about 15 minutes more.
• Serve pears, warm or at room temperature, drizzled with pan juices and topped with almond crunch.

APPLES, APRICOTS AND PEARS WITH ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• Place all fruit into bowl and set aside.
• In chilled bowl, beat whipping cream at high speed until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add sugar, continue beating until stiff peaks form.
• Fold remaining Dressing ingredients in by hand, then fold into fruit.

JOHN'S PEAR AND ALMOND-CREAM TART

Steps:

• Make dough: In a food processor, combine flour, salt, and granulated sugar; pulse to combine. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, gradually add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water).
• Transfer dough (still crumbly) onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form into a 3/4-inch-thick disk; wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to a 12-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan, pressing up sides. Run a rolling pin across the top of pan to trim the edge; refrigerate.
• Make filling: In a food processor, pulse almonds with confectioners' sugar until finely ground. Add butter, egg, flour, salt, and almond extract; process almond cream until well combined.
• Spread 1/4 cup jam on bottom of tart shell, then spread almond cream on top; chill for 15 minutes. Arrange pear slices in a fan pattern over almond cream; place tart on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and almond cream is puffed and set. Transfer tart to a wire rack; let cool in pan. Remove tart from pan. Melt remaining 1/4 cup jam; brush over tart.

POACHED PEARS WITH VANILLA CREAM

Steps:

• Peel 4 firm, ripe Bosc pears, and core from the bottom using a melon baler, leaving stems intact. In a 2-qart microwave-safe dish with a lid, place 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, and add pears. Cover, and microwave on high until the pears are tender enough to pierce with a knife, 10 to 12 minutes (timing will vary depending upon ripeness of pears). Don't be concerned if pears fall over on their sides as they cook. Carefully uncover, as dish lid will release steam.
• Transfer cooked pears to four shallow serving bowls, leaving juices behind. Add 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream to the juices of the dish; stir until smooth and saucy. Dividing evenly, spoon sauce around the pears; serve at room temperature or chilled.
• Whip the cream: In a large bowl, whisk remaining 2/3 cup cream and granulated sugar until soft peaks form.
• Assemble: In each of eight shallow dishes, arrange 2 banana halves lengthwise. Place 2 scoops ice cream on bananas. Top with butterscotch sauce, whipped cream, and, if desired, peanuts and a cherry.