Sherried Pears Recipes

SHERRIED PEARS

Steps:

• Peel, core and halve the pears. Toss them with the lemon juice.
• Bring the water and sugar to a boil in a saucepan. When the sugar has dissolved, add the pears, lower the heat and simmer until the pears are just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Drain the pears, transfer them to a shallow serving dish and pour the sherry over them. Turn them in the sherry once or twice. Serve the pears while they are still warm.

SHERRY BAKED PEARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350F/180°C.
• Combine sherry, water, sugar, lemon juice and butter in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat about 5 minutes.
• While sauce is cooking, halve, pare and core pears. Arrange pears in a baking dish. Pour sherry sauce over pears. Cover dish.
• Bake about 35 to 40 minutes or until pears are tender.
• Serve warm or chilled, plain or with whipped or sour cream, if desired.

VANILLA POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• Place the white wine, water, sugar and vanilla bean and pulp into a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
• Core the pears from the bottom. Decrease the heat to medium low and place the pears into the liquid, cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the pears are tender but not falling apart. Maintain a gentle simmer. Remove the pears to a serving dish, standing them upright, and place in the refrigerator.
• Remove the vanilla bean from the saucepan, increase the heat to high and reduce the syrup to approximately 1 cup of liquid, approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Do not allow the syrup to turn brown. Place the syrup in a heatproof container and place in the refrigerator until cool, approximately 1 hour.
• Remove the pears from the refrigerator, spoon the sauce over the pears and serve.

SHERRIED PEARS

Steps:

• Arrange pears in an 8" round baking dish. In a small bowl beat together vermouth and apricot preserves. Pour over pears. Sprinkle with macaroon crumbs and dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 min. Makes 4-6 servings.

SHERRIED BAKED FRUIT

Steps:

• Combine butter and flour in small saucepan over low heat, blending until smooth.
• Stir in sugar.
• Slowly add sherry, stirring constantly, until thickened.
• Combine the sauce with the drained fruits in a 2-quart casserole.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

SAUSAGES WITH SHERRY CARAMEL GLAZED PEARS

Steps:

• Bring sugar and 1/4 cup water to a boil in a 10-inch heavy skillet, stirring until sugar is dissolved and washing down any sugar crystals on side of skillet with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. Boil syrup, without stirring, gently swirling skillet, until mixture is a deep golden caramel.
• Carefully stir in vinegar (mixture will steam vigorously and caramel will harden). Remove from heat and stir until caramel is dissolved, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a heatproof cup and reserve skillet (do not clean skillet).
• Peel pears, quarter lengthwise, and core. Toss with 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
• Add 1/4 cup water, butter, and shallots to reserved skillet, then cook, uncovered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and shallots begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
• Add pears and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown but not soft, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in caramel, salt, and pepper, then cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.
• While pears and shallots are sautéing, cook sausages in oil and remaining 1/4 cup water in a 12-inch heavy skillet, covered, over moderate heat, 5 minutes.
• Remove lid from skillet and cook sausages, turning occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and sausages are browned and cooked through, about 6 to 12 minutes more. Serve sausages with shallots and pears.

BRANDIED PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Mix 1/3 cup brown sugar with water and lemon juice together in an ungreased baking dish until sugar is dissolved. Arrange pear halves, core side down, in the dish, and baste with the sauce. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake pears in the preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes, or until fork-tender but not mushy.
• Meanwhile, mix nuts together with the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons brandy, and the yogurt; set aside. In a separate bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Sprinkle in white sugar and remaining 2 teaspoons of brandy, or liqueur of choice, and gently whip a few strokes more.
• To serve, place one pear half in the center of each serving plate and fill core cavity with nut stuffing. Top with whipped cream. Serve warm.

RACK OF PORK ROASTED WITH SHERRY AND PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel and core the pears and cut each into quarters. Reserve the peelings and place the pears in enough ice water to cover. Add the lemon juice to the pears, stir and set aside.
• In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the shallots and 1 clove of minced garlic and the pear peelings and allow to soften for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid burning. Add the sherry and the chicken broth, bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Continue to simmer the sauce until it has reduced by half. Strain the sauce and set aside.
• Place the pork on a rack in a roasting pan and season with salt, pepper and the remaining garlic. Place in the oven for 10 minutes. Drain the pears and pat them dry and place them around the roast, glazing each with the drippings from the meat. If, at this point, the pork has not rendered enough fat to lightly coat the pears, melt the additional butter and brush over the pears. Return to the oven for 25 minutes.
• Remove the pork from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes while reheating the sauce. Carefully slice the pork between the bones and place two chops, flanked by the roasted pears, on each of 6 plates. The pork can be served with glazed carrots (see recipe) and wild rice.