Autumn Pear Chip Recipes

AUTUMN PEAR BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the eggs, buttermilk and vanilla; stir into the flour mixture just until moistened. Fold in pears., Spoon into 2 greased 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

RUSTIC AUTUMN FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Cut the cold butter and cream cheese into the flour with a knife or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (This can also be done in a food processor: pulse the cold butter into the flour until the mixture resembles cornmeal; add the cream cheese and pulse until it's the size of small peas.) When you squeeze a handful of the mixture, it should form a ball. Shape the dough into a round disk, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Toss the sliced apples and pear with the orange juice. Whisk together the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and cornstarch. Toss the fruit with the sugar-spice mixture and set aside.
• Preheat an oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Set out an 8-inch tart pan, or, if you'll be making a free-form tart (galette), lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured work surface to form a 10-inch circle. Transfer the dough to the tart pan or baking sheet. Arrange the fruit decoratively in the tart pastry. If you're baking the tart on a baking sheet, leave a 2-inch rim of dough and fold it up over the edge of the fruit (the pastry folds will overlap).
• Bake the tart in the preheated oven until the crust is browned and the filling is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and brush it with the apricot jam.

AUTUMN PICCALILLI WITH PEAR

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together the vegetables, pears and salt with 2 litres of cold water, then cover and leave overnight.
• The next day, drain the brine from the vegetables, rinse briefly, then tip into a large saucepan with the vinegar, ginger, coriander seeds, mustard seeds and sugar. Bring to the boil and simmer for 8-10 mins until the veg is just tender but still with a little bite. Drain the vegetables, reserving the liquid, and set aside while you make the sweet mustard sauce.
• In a large bowl, stir together the cornflour, mustard powder and turmeric, then gradually pour in the hot vinegar while whisking, until you have a lump-free, thin yellow sauce. Return it to the saucepan and bubble over a low heat, stirring constantly, for 4 mins until smooth and thickened. Stir in the veg and spoon into five sterilised 500ml jars while hot, then seal. Once cool, enjoy straight away, or store in a cool, dark cupboard for 2-3 months. Refrigerate once opened.

PEAR CHIPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat (such as a Silpat); set aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine sugar with 1 cup water. Bring to a boil; cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; keep at a simmer as you proceed.
• Using a mandoline or a very sharp knife, slice pear lengthwise as thinly as possible; make sure that each slice remains intact and is uniformly thick. Do not worry about removing seeds or the core (they soften during baking). Squeeze lemon halves over pear slices, coating both sides with juice. Place slices in simmering syrup; cook 2 minutes. Remove slices with a slotted spoon and place on the prepared baking sheet about 1 inch apart.
• Bake pear slices until they are dry to the touch, about 2 hours. Using a small offset spatula, loosen edges of slices; use your hands to peel pears from the sheet, then flip them over. Return pears to oven; bake, checking frequently, until chips are completely dry and crisp (but not browned), about 20 minutes.

AUTUMN APPLE AND PEAR LATTICE PIE

Steps:

• Combine 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half and flatten each half into a 5-inch disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours (overnight).
• Combine 1 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in large bowl. Add apples and pears and toss to coat well.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Position 2 racks in lower third of oven. Put a sheet of foil just a few inches larger than pie plate on bottom rack to catch drips.
• Roll out 1 piece of dough into a 12-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick) on a lightly floured work surface with a floured rolling pin. Line a 9-inch pie plate with pastry and trim overhang to 1/2 inch with kitchen shears or a paring knife. Roll out remaining dough in same manner and cut into 10 strips (3/4 to 1 inch wide) for a lattice.
• Mound apple and pear filling into crust. Brush crust rim with some of egg wash. Dot filling with butter. Lay 5 strips of dough parallel across pie, about 1 inch apart, letting excess hang over rim. Lay remaining strips diagonally across pie in opposite direction. Press ends firmly to rim of pie, trimming excess dough. Crimp edges with your fingers or fork tines. Brush with remaining egg wash. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar.
• Bake pie in lower third of oven for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and bake until juices in center of pie are bubbling, about 45 minutes more. (Loosely cover pie with a sheet of foil if browning too quickly.) Transfer pie to a wire rack and cool 2 hours.

AUTUMN PEAR CHIP

Steps:

• Swirl poire Williams in 2 glasses to coat; discard poire Williams. Using muddler or handle of wooden spoon, mash ginger in cocktail shaker. Add Calvados, pear juice, lemon juice, and ice; shake well. Strain into glasses. Garnish each with pear crisp.