Ruby Pears Recipes

QUICK POACHED PEARS WITH RUBY-RED RASPBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• With apple corer or small knife, remove cores from blossom end (bottom) of pears. Peel pears almost to top but do not remove stems. Rub pears with lemon half, sprinkle with sugar.
• In glass pie plate, arrange pears lying down with stems toward center, add 2 tablespoons water. Cook, uncovered, in microwave oven on High 5 to 6 minutes, until tender, turning pears over halfway through cooking. Transfer pears, stem ends up, to 2 dessert plates, set aside until ready to serve.
• In blender at high speed, puree raspberries. Sift confectioners' sugar through coarse sieve into small bowl. Press raspberry puree through same sieve into same bowl to remove seeds. Discard seeds. Stir liqueur into raspberry mixture.
• To serve, spoon raspberry sauce over poached pears. Garnish with mint sprigs and reserved raspberries.

RUBY PEARS IN A GOLDEN CAGE

Steps:

• Combine the flour, salt,sugar and turmeric in a bowl.
• Add the butter and shortening and cut in until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Mix the vinegar and cold water and add, one tablespoon at a time, to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork until just combined. Wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 F, ideally with a baking stone.
• Use a melon baller to scoop out the pear seeds, leaving a small hole.
• With a paring knife, carefully notch out the stem.
• In a small dish mix the granola and butter. Place evenly into the cavity of each pear half and set aside.
• Melt the jam and honey together, set aside.
• Roll out ⅔ of the pastry on a floured surface to ¼" thick and divide into 4 pieces, each just large enough for a pear half.
• Flip the pear halves onto each pastry square and brush with jam mixture.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to ⅛"-¼" thick and cut into strips.
• Form strips into a lattice over each pear, pressing to seal at the bottom.
• Use a knife to trim around the pears, and form stems and leaves with the excess crust.
• Bake until pie crust is golden and juice is bubbling out from pears, about 20 minutes if your pear is very ripe, up to 40 with firm pears.

PEARS POACHED IN PORT WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• In a small, deep saucepan, bring the port to a boil over high heat; let it boil rapidly for a few minutes to burn off the alcohol. Lower the heat, add the sugar and water, and simmer, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat.
• Peel the pears and core them from the bottom, leaving the stem intact. As you do this, add them to the syrup. (The syrup should cover the fruit. If not, add more sugar syrup made from equal amounts of water and sugar.) Add the cinnamon, clove, cardamom, orange and lemon zest, and peppercorns. To keep the pears moist as they cook, cover them with parchment or cheesecloth.
• Return the pan to the stove and bring to a gentle simmer. Poach the pears until tender when pierced with a skewer or knife, 15 to 30 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool in the syrup.
• Just before serving, beat the mascarpone, sugar, and Frangelico with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Divide among four dessert plates. Arrange the pears on the mascarpone. Taste the poaching liquid and reduce to concentrate the wine flavor if necessary. Drizzle a little of the liquid over the pears and top with the hazelnuts.