Pancetta Pear Pecan Puffs Recipes

HONEYED PEARS IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Core pears from bottom, leaving stems intact. Peel pears; cut 1/4 in. from the bottom of each to level if necessary., In a large saucepan, combine the water, sugar, honey, lemon halves, cinnamon and cloves. Split vanilla bean and scrape seeds; add bean and seeds to sugar mixture. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; place pears on their sides in saucepan and poach, uncovered, until almost tender, basting occasionally with poaching liquid, 16-20 minutes., Remove pears with a slotted spoon; cool slightly. Strain and reserve 1-1/2 cups poaching liquid; set aside., Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 1/2-in.-wide strips. Brush lightly with beaten egg. Starting at the bottom of a pear, wrap a pastry strip around pear, adding additional strips until pear is completely wrapped in pastry. Repeat with remaining pears and puff pastry., Transfer to a parchment-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake on a lower oven rack at 400° until golden brown, 25-30 minutes., Meanwhile, bring reserved poaching liquid to a boil; cook until liquid is thick and syrupy, about 10 minutes. Place pears on dessert plates and drizzle with syrup. Serve warm.

PANCETTA BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CARAMELIZED PECANS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss the Brussels sprouts with pancetta, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar. Place in a casserole pan and cover the pan with a sheet of Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil.
• Roast for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue roasting until the Brussels sprouts are lightly browned around the edges, about 10 to 15 minutes more. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Melt the butter and remaining tablespoon brown sugar in a medium-sized frying pan over medium heat, stirring every few minutes. Once the sugar has melted, add the pecans and stir to coat. Let them sit for a few minutes until they smell toasty, then stir. Continue to stir every few minutes until most of the pecans are lightly browned and very aromatic.
• Remove the pan from the heat and empty the mixture onto a large baking sheet lined with Reynolds® Parchment Paper. Smooth the pecans so they are in one layer, then sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes to allow the nuts to harden, then remove the pan and separate the pecans by hand.
• Toss the roasted Brussels sprouts with caramelized pecans before serving.

PECAN PUFFS

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat egg whites and salt until soft peaks form. Gradually add brown sugar, beating until stiff peaks form, 5-8 minutes. Fold in vanilla and pecans. Drop by well-rounded teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 225° for 50-55 minutes or until firm to the touch. Store in airtight container.

MELT IN YOUR MOUTH PECAN PUFFS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300 degrees F.
• Cream butter and sugar; add vanilla.
• Stir in flour and nuts.
• Roll into small (1 inch) balls.
• Bake for 27 minutes.
• Remove from oven, roll in powdered sugar while hot.
• Cool.

PECAN PUFFS II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the vanilla. Grind pecans in a food processor or blender; toss with cake flour. Stir the pecan mixture into the creamed mixture until well blended. Roll the dough into tablespoon balls, then place them 1 inch apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 25 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. When they are cooled, roll them again.

PANCETTA, PEAR AND PARMESAN SCONES

Steps:

• Coat a small skillet with olive oil and cook the pancetta over medium heat until it is crisp. Drain on paper towels; break it up into pieces when it is cool. Wipe out the skillet and heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat until it starts to brown; be careful not to let it burn. Add the pear cubes and cook them until they are soft but still holding their shape, about 5 to 7 minutes. Set aside on a plate to cool.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees F.
• Sift into a bowl the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add the remaining butter and cut it in with a pastry blender or your hands until it resembles coarse bread crumbs. Stir in the pepper, rosemary, and pancetta. Add the cream; mix just until the dough has come together. With floured hands, gather the dough into a ball and place it onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into 8 pieces and form them into balls. Place them onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Press a well into the center of each with your thumb, place 1 teaspoon of the cooled cooked pears into the well, and pinch the scones closed. Sprinkle the tops with the cheese. Bake the scones for 12 to 14 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet and cool on a wire rack. Sprinkle with some more parmesan.