Cranberry Spiced Pears Food

SPICED CRANBERRY & PEAR RELISH

Steps:

• Put all the ingredients except the pear in a non-reactive saucepan with a large pinch of salt. Bring it slowly to a simmer, stirring to make sure all the sugar has dissolved. Add the pear and continue cooking until the mixture has the consistency of thick jam.
• Sterilise your jars and lids by washing them in hot soapy water, rinsing well and drying them in a warm oven. Spoon the hot relish into the hot jars and seal. Leave to cool. Will keep unopened in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months. Once opened, relish is best eaten within 2 months.

CRANBERRY PEARS

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine water, sugar and cinnamon. Add pears; bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in cranberries. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Serve warm or chilled.

SPICED CRANBERRY-PEAR TART

Steps:

• For pistachio sugar:
• Combine 1/2 cup pistachios and 1/3 cup sugar in processor and blend until pistachios are chopped. DO AHEAD Can be made 3 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
• For crust:
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water; pulse until mixture begins to clump, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if dry. Gather into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill overnight. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch. Fold in and press, forming double-thick sides and pressing up 1/4 inch above pan sides. Pierce all over with fork. Chill 30 minutes, then freeze 15 minutes.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 400°F. Bake crust until golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 30 minutes. Cool on rack. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with foil; store at room temperature.
• For pear filling:
• Combine first 7 ingredients in large skillet; bring to boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add pears; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until pears are tender when pierced with knife, turning occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes depending on ripeness. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish in single layer. Add cranberries to liquid in skillet; simmer until berries begin to soften but remain intact, about 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to plate in single layer. Cover; chill at least 3 hours. Boil poaching liquid in skillet until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, stirring often, about 10 minutes. DO AHEAD Pears, cranberries, and syrup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover separately; chill. Bring syrup to room temperature; whisk before using.
• Drain pears on paper towels 10 minutes. Brush bottom of crust with 2 tablespoons poaching syrup; sprinkle pistachio sugar over. Starting at outer edges of crust, arrange pears closely in starburst pattern with stem ends toward center. Arrange remaining pears in center. Brush pears lightly with some of syrup. Toss cranberries with 1 tablespoon syrup; scatter over pears. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped pistachios. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Serve tart with vanilla ice cream.

SPICED CRANBERRY-PEAR SUNDAES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat and then add pears, cranberries, sugar, cinnamon, orange zest, and juice. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fruit has softened and the liquid has reduced slightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl to cool before serving, at least 15 minutes.
• To serve, scoop ice cream into bowls, top with cranberry-pear compote, and sprinkle with gingersnaps.

SPICED PEAR-AND-CRANBERRY CHUTNEY

Steps:

• Combine cranberries, pears, orange peel and juice, sugar, cinnamon stick, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries begin to burst and pears are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool completely; discard cinnamon stick and serve.

CRANBERRY PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, pecans, cranberries and apple pie spice; set aside. , In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream just until combined. Fold in pears. , Pour half of the batter into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan. Sprinkle with half of the pecan mixture; top with remaining batter and pecan mixture. , Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. , In a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients until smooth; drizzle over cake.

SPICED PEAR CRANBERRY COBBLER

Steps:

• For pastry: In medium bowl, combine flour & salt; add chilled butter & shortening. with pastry blender, combine until mixture resembles cornmeal. Sprinkle with ice water. Toss lightly with a fork until dough holds together when pinched. Flatten dough to a round; wrap in plastic wrap & refrigerate at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare filling: In large bowl, combine pear slices & cranberries. Sprinkle with 1 1/4c sugar, whole wheat flour, allspice & cardamom; mix thoroughly. Spread fruit mixture into a 13x9x2" pan; dot w/1TB butter. Heat oven to 375°F.
• On lightly floured surface, roll pastry to about 1/8" thick, making it 1" larger than the rim of the pan. Place pastry over fruit. Crimp border around rim. Cut 3 2" slits in pastry. Dust w/1tsp sugar. Bake 45 minutes until browned & fruit is bubbling. Cool 15-20 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

BLUSHING CRANBERRY PEARS

Steps:

• Place cranberry juice, sugar, and cinnamon stick into a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Meanwhile, peel the pears, leaving the stem intact.
• Place the pears into the simmering juice and cover. Cook until the pears are tender, turning occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes. Once tender, remove the saucepan from the heat, and set aside to cool to room temperature. Turn the pears a few times as they cool so the color remains even.