Golden Pears With Spiced Maple Granita Recipes

PORT-AND-SPICE POACHED PEARS WITH GRANITA

Steps:

• Peel pears, leaving stems intact. Cut a round of parchment paper to fit inside a wide 4-quart heavy pot.
• Bring grape juice, Port, sugar, spices, and 1 cup water to a boil in pot over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add pears, arranging them on their sides in 1 layer (pears will not be covered by liquid). Cover pears directly with round of parchment. Reduce heat to low and poach pears, turning occasionally, until just tender when pierced with a sharp knife, about 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let pears steep in liquid, covered with parchment, turning occasionally, at least 2 hours and up to 3.
• Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a shallow dish, reserving poaching liquid. Let pears stand at room temperature or chill, covered with parchment.
• Pour poaching liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl (discard spices) and return to pot. Boil, uncovered, until liquid is reduced to about 2 1/2 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and remaining 1/4 cup water. Pour liquid into an 8- to 9-inch square baking pan (not nonstick).
• Freeze liquid 1 1/2 hours, then scrape and stir with a fork, crushing any lumps. Repeat, scraping every hour until evenly frozen, about 4 hours more.
• Bring chilled pears to room temperature before serving, about 30 minutes.
• Cut a thin slice from bottom of each pear, then stand pears upright on chilled plates. Scrape granita, then serve pears with granita and créme fraîche.

MAPLE BAKED GOLDEN PEARS

Steps:

• 1. Arrange the pears cut-side up in an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Whisk the apple juice and syrup in a small heavy saucepan over medium heat until the syrup dissolves. Whisk in the butter.
• 2. Pour the sauce over the pears, and sprinkle them with the chopped nuts.
• 3. Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven until the pears are tender and beginning to brown, basting occasionally with the juices, for about 35 minutes.
• 4. Serve with vanilla bean ice cream, if desired.

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.