Last week I scored big time at Fareway. They had just gone through with their little mark-down gun and put tons of produce on uber sale. I restrained the urge to buy everything on sale, realizing that all too often my intentions outweigh my actions. The $2.49 four pack of avocados and the $1.59 bag of pears won my heart over though. Avocados...how can you go wrong? And Micah eats a pear a day, more if I'd let him.
It wasn't until I unpacked the over sized bag of pears that I realized-These will all get ripe at the same time!!! So, I pulled out my Joy of Cooking cookbook and thumbed through it. I found some tasty recipes. One involving pears mixed in with mangoes...sounds yummy, but too tropical for this time of year. Another was poached pears. Also, sounded yummy, but WAY too complicated.
I settled on the following recipe and shared the bounty with our faith family last night:
Almond Pear Buckle
Literally only a 'few' of the pears that were stuffed in the $1.59 bag o'goodness!
My sad attempt to be artistic! One can dream, right?
Cutting in the butter to form a yummy crumb topping!
The best part!!! So I toasted the almonds all right! I knew when I smelled them that it was too late! I picked out the good ones and tossed the rest. Honestly, it turned out fine. I think that if I would've added more almonds it might have taken away from the rest of the flavors.
The recipe follows in case I've piqued your interest:
NOTE: I doubled the recipe in an effort to use more pears...and to feed our giant faith family! The recipe I am including is the original recipe.
Preheat oven to 350. Butter and flour a 10x2inch round cake pan or a 9x9 inch baking dish.
Spread evenly in a pie or cake pan and toast until lightly browned 6-8 minutes (psh...more like 2-3minutes):
1/2 cup sliced almonds with their skin
Let cool. Whisk together thoroughly in a medium bowl:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (which can be purchased for 35 cents/bag at the bent and dent!)
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used nutmeg out of respect for my husband and his weird allergy)
1/4 tsp salt
Add:
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Using a pastry blender (as shown in picture above) or two knives, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Stir in the reserved toasted almonds.
Peel, Halve, and core:
2 medium to large ripe pears
Cut each half into 4 wedges, then cut the wedges crosswise in half. Toss with:
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Cover with a sheet of plastic wrap in direct contact with the fruit. Set aside while you make the cake. Whisk together thoroughly in a large bowl:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Combine in another bowl:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, half melted
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cold large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp almond extract
Beat until slightly fluffy. Gradually beat in:
1/2 cup milk
Add to the flour mixture and stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened and the batter is smooth. Gently fold the pears into the batter. Spoon into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top springs back slowly. Let cool in the pan for at least 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with:
pear sherbert or softly whipped cream (or by itself...because I'm sure it has enough calories to get us into next year on its own)
Disappointingly, I don't have a picture of the finished product, but I will tell you that 24 hours later there is only a piece or two left!
There are times when I don't see the blessings the Lord has showered us with, and there are other times I'm completely overwhelmed by them. While the pear buckle itself wasn't a blessing, except to our taste buds, the Lord blessed me in my time alone while making it, my satisfaction that I made an awesome dessert using my new-found skills in being frugal, and if we were not blessed with such a great group of brothers and sisters in Christ, I would not have a reason to make this yummy dessert!
How has the Lord blessed you in the practical ways today?
3 comments:
Wow, that sounds SO good! I will have to try that!
YOU read Joy of Cooking?? I'm an avid Joy user!! I'm so excited. I even made your picture of the pears with "Joy" in the background my desktop photo. :) Ok... a little over the top.
I'm sad I didn't see you over the holidays... I hope you are all well. Miss you much!
Dollie, Your blog delights me every time. You are one of the Lord's blessings in my life. I do look forward to more of Micah, though. Mom
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