Showing posts with label pear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pear. Show all posts

Friday, February 21, 2014

Pear and Blackberry Frangipane Tart


It was a rather wet start on Sunday, but when it dried up after lunch, I went out and noticed that there were a lot of brambles which were ripe.  I started to pick them, but once my hands were full, had to come back to the house for a bowl!

I put most of the blackberries in the freezer but decided to keep some back to make a dessert.

Pear and Blackberry Frangipane Tart


1 traybake tin  approx 30 x 23 x 4cm (12" x 9" x 1 ½")
1 sheet frozen puff pastry
3 tbsp raspberry jam
1 or 2 poached pears, quartered
100g blackberries (or a couple of handfuls)

for the Frangipane
55g butter
55g caster sugar
40g ground almonds
1 large egg
15g plain flour

1. Heat the oven to 180C/170C fan oven
2. Line the tin with the pastry and trim to fit
3. Spread the raspberry jam on the base of the pastry
4. Using an electric mixer or a wooden spoon, beat together the frangipane ingredients
5. Add peached pears and sprinkle over the blackberries, push them down into the frangipane mix.
6. Bake at 170C for 20 minutes until risen and golden brown.

I served the tart warm with icecream, but you can also eat it cold.  If I was going to make this again I would make shortcrust pastry for the base as the puff pastry wasnt so good underneath especially when cold.


I had some company when I was out picking brambles, the horses in the next door field were very interested in what I was doing!

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

SANDRA’S LUSCIOUS STRAWBERRY PEAR APPLE ORANGE SMOOTHIES

These organic light and fruity
smoothies are perfect for those
sunny spring mornings...
Servings: (2)
Prep: 5 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Smoothies:
½ cup ice
½ cup strawberry Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon wheat germ
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons honey
1 orange, peeled, sectioned, and cut into chunks
1 unpeeled pear, cored and cut into chunks
1 unpeeled apple, cored and cut into chunks
4 large strawberries, hulled and cut into chunks

Garnish:
1 strawberry, hulled and cut in half lengthwise

METHOD

Place all ingredients in ordered listed into the blender; puree until smooth.  Pour into two serving glasses with straws, and garnish with halved strawberry slices.



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Friday, January 31, 2014

Ginger Pear Cranberry Sauce – Making Your Holidays More Difficult One Condiment at a Time

You would think the vast majority of the visitors to this blog would be fine with me posting a new holiday cranberry sauce every year, but apparently that’s not the case. 

After posting the tease picture for this lovely ginger, pear, cranberry sauce, I received a bunch of comments and emails with the same basic message, “please don’t, you’re confusing us.”

Evidently, some people like our past cranberry sauce recipes so much, that they don’t know if they should stick with them, or try a new version. It’s causing quite the dilemma. Do you go with the one you know you love, and that garnered so many compliments, or do you try something new and risk it all?

Sorry, I really can’t help you decide, but at least let me make an already tough call, even tougher. This gingery, pear-studded cranberry sauce was simply amazing. I’ve been wanting to try pear in a cranberry sauce forever, and this was so fantastic that I’m a little upset I waited this long.

Anyway, I hope your Thanksgiving menu is shaping up nicely, and that tomorrow will bring a table full of fabulous food. Whether you use this cranberry sauce, or an older version, or heaven help us, one from another blog, I hope you and your family have a great holiday. Enjoy!


Ingredients for about 2 cups:
12 oz fresh whole cranberries
1 large bosc pear, peeled, diced
2 oz candied ginger, minced
zest of 1 large orange
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 whole star anise
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp garam masala (an Indian-style curry spice blend)
1/4 tsp salt

View the complete recipe

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