dessert – The Pear Dish https://usapears.org/blog A blog about our favorite fruit, USA Pears! Mon, 24 Sep 2018 23:52:57 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.25 Chocolate Pear Hand Pies https://usapears.org/blog/chocolate-pear-hand-pies/ Tue, 20 Feb 2018 22:11:37 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4976 I had heard rumblings about the glory of pairing pears and chocolate in pie. I mean, they’re both two delicious things, so how could it not be amazing? I also loved how portable these hand pies are. They’re so easy to just hold in your hand and completely devour in five seconds while watching Netflix with bae (or by yourself…any situation really). Some ingredient notes: I used a combination of Bartlett and Bosc pears. For chocolate, I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but if you have some REALLY good chocolate laying around (like some Valrhona discs…) you should totally go for it. TREAT YO-SELF! Ingredients: Crust (crust recipe adapted from Four and Twenty Blackbirds) 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp sea salt 1 tbsp sugar 1 cup butter (straight from the fridge, cut into 1-inch pieces) 1 cup cold water 1/4 cup Continue reading →

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]]> Keep Love In The Air With Chocolate and Pears https://usapears.org/blog/keep-love-air-chocolate-pears/ Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:40:26 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4958 Love is in the air and few things are as enticing as the passionate relationship between chocolate and pears. These two foods may come from opposite worlds but when they meet, the chemistry is unmistakable and downright charming. The possibilities are truly endless with these two simple ingredients, and you don’t need to be a gourmet chef to pull off something delicious and creative. We can’t prove it, but we are pretty sure chocolate and pears will please pretty much anyone. As you think of the perfect way to please your Valentine, consider savoring the joyous relationship that is chocolate and pears with these five recipes. 1. Dark Chocolate Dipped Pears Move over strawberries— there’s another fruit that tastes amazing when dipped in chocolate! Rich dark chocolate pairs perfectly with Red Anjou pears, which just so happen to be heart-check Continue reading →

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]]> Pear, Green Tea, and Honey Granita https://usapears.org/blog/pear-green-tea-honey-granita/ Thu, 25 Jan 2018 16:03:24 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4942 As we enter the depths of winter, after the holiday rush has slowed to steady daily routines, we take pleasure in things with a simpler, more nourishing feel. Enter granita, the flavor-rich frozen treat that is Italy’s answer to French sorbet or Hawaiian shave ice. Perhaps it’s most often served as a refreshing end to a rich meal, but that’s not the end of its capabilities. After all, this recipe is simply a mixture of lusciously ripe fresh pears sweetened with a touch of honey, accentuated by a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt, and enhanced with the addition of matcha powder for green tea flavor and color, which also lends a smooth texture to the fluffy ice. Yes, it’s delicious served all on its own to finish dinner, but consider the options. Freshly shucked oysters benefit from Continue reading →

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]]> 12 Creative Ways to Poach a Pear https://usapears.org/blog/12-creative-ways-poach-pear/ Tue, 19 Dec 2017 15:13:28 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4903 How many ways can you poach a pear? There may not be a set answer when you consider that the pear-ssibilities are endless. The classic go-to seems to be red or white wine poached pears, which is definitely one of the prettiest and most decadent ways to poach. But when it comes to poaching, sometimes it’s worth it to think outside the pear box. Besides wine, pears can be poached in cider, bold and flavorful beers like stouts and Belgian ales, and even espresso, among other liquids. Restaurants love to impress diners with beautifully poached pear dishes because, besides being delicious, they are visually striking. Even though poached pears may look challenging to make, most recipes are easier than you might think. December is National Pear Month and the time of year when all ten varieties of Northwest pears are Continue reading →

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]]> Pear Rugelach https://usapears.org/blog/pear-rugelach/ Fri, 08 Dec 2017 16:21:42 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4892 Rugelach, the crescent-shaped, cookie-like pastries filled with any combination of nuts, fruit, chocolate, and seeds, is a festive holiday treat of Jewish decent. Though they are commonly filled with dried fruits, like raisins, fresh pears diced extra small are a tasty twist. Pear butter adds another layer of flavor and allows the filling to stick to the dough as you roll them up. It can be found in the jam aisle at many supermarkets. The cream cheese dough is tender, flaky, and oh so easy to mix together, making this recipe a fun endeavor for families of any faith during the holiday season. Makes 36 Ingredients: Dough 16 tablespoons (1 cup/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature 3/4 cup cream cheese, at room temperature 1/3 cup sour cream 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cups all-purpose flour Filling 1/2 cup sugar Continue reading →

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]]> Fall is the Pear-fect Time for Sweet Swaps https://usapears.org/blog/fall-is-the-pear-fect-time-for-sweet-swaps/ Mon, 30 Oct 2017 19:24:10 +0000 http://usapears.org/blog/?p=4786 Let me set the record straight: there’s no one food that’s a miracle cure for all ailments, nor is there just one food that is responsible for causing all of our health issues. Balance is what’s key when it comes to a healthy diet. If there is one food that adds calories without adding much value, it’s sugar. Sugar is what I call, The Master of Disguise, appearing more often on food labels than you might realize, and not always spelled as s-u-g-a-r. These aliases can show up on ingredient lists as molasses, high fructose corn syrup, organic cane juice, and dozens of other names. The good news is that our new food labels (on or before January 2020) will finally differentiate between natural sugar (the sugar that is inherently within foods like milk, yogurt and fruit) and added sugar Continue reading →

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]]> Beat the Heat! https://usapears.org/blog/beat-the-heat/ Tue, 01 Aug 2017 23:50:50 +0000 http://blog.usapears.org/?p=4713 Summer is my favorite season, because of the social gatherings, barbecues, picnics, and summer treats that satisfy my sweet tooth. I pay attention to my calorie intake carefully – especially during the hot summer when cold, decadent treats are everywhere. So, what is a dietitian to do? Make popsicles, of course! Anything that can be made into juice or a smoothie can also be made into a delicious popsicle that fulfills that sweet craving, cools you off, and packs in nutrients without unnecessary calories. Making popsicles is very easy, in fact it’s a fun activity for the whole family. And you don’t need any molds or special equipment, paper cups and popsicle sticks will suffice. For this method, place the cups on a tray, fill them ¾ full, cover the cups with saran wrap, and press the sticks through to Continue reading →

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]]> Dark Chocolate Dipped Pears https://usapears.org/blog/dark-chocolate-dipped-pears/ Fri, 10 Feb 2017 00:40:58 +0000 http://blog.usapears.org/?p=4590 Move over strawberries—chocolate dipped pears are a fresh twist on this decadent Valentine’s Day treat. Rich dark chocolate pairs perfectly with Red Anjou pears, which just so happen to be heart-check certified by the American Heart Association. (Happy National Heart Month!) Decorate your dipped pears with a variety of creative options for sprinkling, like nuts, coconut flakes, and even vivid red chile powder for a kick. With this thoughtful homemade gift, your Valentine will definitely be yours! Makes 32 2 USA Red Anjou pears (about 1 pound) 1 teaspoon Fruit-Fresh® Produce Protector 8 ounces dark chocolate (60 to 70% cacao), chopped Options for Sprinkling: Finely chopped pistachios or other nuts Flaky sea salt Shredded coconut Chile powder Curry powder Sesame seeds Chopped colorful dried fruit, such as apricots, cranberries, or goji berries Fill a medium saucepan with about 1 inch Continue reading →

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]]> Waiting for the Weight? https://usapears.org/blog/waiting-for-the-weight/ Fri, 16 Dec 2016 23:55:08 +0000 http://blog.usapears.org/?p=4546 Ah, the holidays. That magical time of year when friends and family come together, airports are overrun, siblings fight, and we all pack on a few pounds that we resolve to lose in January. (Actually, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2000 suggests we only gain about one pound over the holidays!) My first holiday gathering is this week, and since I have a terrible sweet tooth I’ve already pictured the dessert table. It looks delicious and is full of my favorites, so what do I do? I say it every year – plan, plan, plan! So where to start? First, never arrive hungry. If I’m hungry when I walk in the door, within minutes I might have a bottle of wine and an entire cake in my hands. That’s not good, so carry filling snacks Continue reading →

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]]> Pear Sweetened Spiced Molasses Cookies https://usapears.org/blog/pear-sweetened-spiced-molasses-cookies/ Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:40:05 +0000 http://blog.usapears.org/?p=4484 These delightful fall cookies are reminiscent of a classic soft molasses cookie, but are made with less than half of the sugar in a typical recipe. Pear puree stands in for much of the sugar, adding a wonderfully unique pear flavor to the cookies, along with fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Bake off a batch of these tender cookies and store the extras in the refrigerator for packing into lunches or for after school snacks. Ingredients: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted ¼ cup packed light brown sugar 1 egg 1 cup pear puree (from about 2 ripe USA Pears, such as Red or Green Bartlett, diced and pureed in a blender until smooth) ¼ cup molasses 2 ¼ cups whole wheat pastry flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon cloves ½ teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt granulated sugar, for Continue reading →

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