I've got a bunch of pears.

[mtdew]

I have 10 pounds of freshly picked pears from the tree in my backyard. I need to use all 10 pounds up before they rot. I think they are bartlett pears. They are green and redish. Any suggested recipes?

[bergerka]

Ask slkinsey about the pear tarte tatin he made one time. O.M.G.

he made it in a GIGANTIC cast-iron pan, too, so it used a lot of pears.

Also--pear butter! Same recipe as apple butter (core and peel pears, cook them till they get soft, run them through a food mill, add sugar to taste, cook in oven or on stovetop until it reaches very thick buttery consistency, pour into sterilized jars, cool, eat and use as Christmas gifts!), only with pears. MMMMM.

K

edited to add the pear butter thing.

Edited October 25, 2003 by bergerka (log)

[Mottmott]

Home made pear preserves are lovely and delicate. I like them even better than pear butter.

[Schneier]

Sell 'em on eBay?

My two real suggestions have already been suggested: pear tart and pear preserves.

[SobaAddict70]

Make a poundcake, and top slices with roasted pears, serve with vanilla-infused whipped cream on the side.

Make a pear chutney, serve with pork or chicken. Or a pear salsa, for use with chicken or fish.

Poach pears in syrup, hollow with a melon baller. Stuff with ice cream or chocolate mousse, dip top half in simple syrup and bottom half in raspberry sauce. Serve in a pool of raspberry coulis, with whipped cream on the side.

Bake in a baking dish, dotted with butter and brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice. Drizzle dark rum. Bake until pears are tender, serve by itself or with a soft cheese, or topped with crushed biscotti.

Soba

[mighty quinn]

pears 'n maytag blue cheese

whole pears poached in earl grey tea

[Suzanne F]

And when you start getting sick of poached pears (if that's possible) puree some with the syrup and turn it into a granita (or sorbet if you've got an ice cream maker).

[elyse]

You could also freeze them and use them in shakes or do some sort of pear sauce or cake later. Preserve them too. jackal's doing the canning eGCI now?

[TrishCT]

MtDew, with apologies, I copied your heading for my query about dried fruit....

1. Pears mixed with canned pineapple make very nice preserves.

2. Pears poached and served over ice cream with chocolate sauce.

3. Pear & Apple Crisp.

[elyse]

Oooh! Infuse some vodka.

[bloviatrix]

If you bake, what about a pear and frangipane tart? I made one a few weeks back using NeroW's recipe that was delicious.

[jwagnerdsm]

Make a light simple syrup (four parts water to one part sugar) bring to a simmer and let pear halves simmer until warm but not cooked through. Place in jars, seal and give a hot water bath for about 20 minutes. Delicious all year long.

[Mrs. B]

Make pear breads, they are the batter type of breads and easy to make. Make several, put them in heavy freezer bags and freeze them. You can toast slices for breakfast or for a family dinner for dessert topped with ice cream.

[HungryChris]

I too have an abundance of pears, this year. I intend to make and freeze pear sorbet. I learned the hard way that lemon juice must be waiting for the pear juice when the pears are juiced or pureed or the juice will turn brown as apple cider in a heart beat if it is not acidified. I have a pear tree that produces pears that grow sweet, but never ripen into the soft pears we are familiar with. Pear sorbet with pears from my own tree for Thanksgiving dessert will be something I will serve with pride this year.

HC

[SobaAddict70]

Or make some artisanal pear schnapps.

Soba

[elyse]

I too have an abundance of pears, this year. I intend to make and freeze pear sorbet.

You're going to freeze it? Radical.

[mighty quinn]

If you bake, what about a pear and frangipane tart?  I made one a few weeks back using NeroW's recipe that was delicious.

ooh-just saw a recipe in the latest saveur- quince frangipane tarts- there's the accompanying recipe for quince "fruit cheese" reckon that pears would work as well.

[Jason Perlow]

Make a pear-ginger sorbet and charge $5 a pint at Whole Foods.

[SobaAddict70]

Better yet, send some to the pie potluck.

Soba

[curlywurlyfi]

the pear frangipane tart is a great idea - the River Cafe Cookbook's version is the best I've ever found. or, make a pear tart with walnut pastry and lots of cinnamon.

[Janice]

Pear gingerbread - same idea as the pound cake but with gingerbread.

Nice and spicy.

[ludja]

pear ice cream is wonderful (Chez Panisse Desserts has a great recipe).

I've also made pear sorbet and served the two together; nice contrast in textures..

or I've served the pear ice cream w/crispy butter pecan cookies.

re: another post above, I just (1 hr ago!) made the quince butter/jam recipe given in November's Saveur (going to use it in the quince frangipane tart recipe for T-day)--it is awesome! My first experience in cooking w/quinces and I am really happy. It looks beautiful (rich rose color) and the taste is a wonderful blend of peach-rose-ginger-apple...

sorry to go off topic!

[Comfort Me]

25 years ago I had a salad at The Ranch in Ojai, CA that I have never forgotten. It was a salad of pears in a tarragon viniagrette with crumbled Maytag and toasted pecans (or maybe it was almonds and I just make it with pecans) on a leaf or two butter bib. Nothing "Bammin'" about the dish, but as delicious and rich as anything I've ever eaten.