Pear Walnut Wontons Food

PEAR AND HAZELNUT WONTONS

Steps:

• In a saute pan over medium heat, toast nuts for approximately 4 minutes, or until they begin to brown. Reserve.
• In a saute pan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Add pears and nuts and saute for approximately 5 minutes, or until pear begins to brown. Add Poire William, let it heat for 5 seconds, then ignite with a flame. Stand back! If flame does not burn out after 10 seconds, smother with a lid. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Place a small bowl of warm water beside wonton wrappers. Put a single won ton wrapper in the palm of your hand and spoon 1 teaspoon of pear mixture onto the center. Dip your finger in water and trace a circle around the pear mixture with your wet finger (water is the glue of wonton wrappers). Pinch and seal wrapper around pear mixture like a small beggar's purse. If you are not going to fry the wontons immediately, cover with a damp dishtowel and refrigerate.
• Pour peanut oil into a pot or heavy skillet until it is 1-inch deep. Turn heat to medium-
• high and heat oil. When you think oil is ready, drop in a tiny piece of a wonton skin. If oil sizzles immediately, you are ready to rock. If oil begins to smoke at any time, remove pan from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Fry as many wontons at 1 time as your skillet will accommodate-without letting them touch. Fry or 30 seconds, or until the bottom side is golden brown. Then turn over for 15 more seconds, or until top side is the same color. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a large brown paper grocery bag, or paper towels, to drain excess oil. Proceed to next batch.
• Place powdered sugar in a small strainer and hold strainer over wontons. Tap strainer gently to dust won tons with a light sprinkling of powdered sugar. Serve immediately
• Recommended beverage: Poire William

PEAR WALNUT SPICE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the raisins in a bowl and toss them with 2 tablespoons of the flour until lightly coated (this will prevent them from sinking in the cake batter during baking).
• To make the cake: Beat the eggs and sugar in a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or using a hand mixer) until fluffy. With the mixer running, slowly pour in the vanilla and the oil. In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Mix into the egg mixture. Mix in the pears and nuts, then stir in the raisins by hand, distributing them evenly in the batter. Spoon into a 10-inch tube pan and bake about 45 to 60 minutes, until springy and dry in the center. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack, then turn it out. Freeze until ready to use or just wrap and store for up to 2 days.
• To make the glaze: Stir the maple syrup and sugar together in a bowl. Glaze the cooled cake by spooning the glaze around the top of the cake and letting it drip down the sides.

PEACH MASCARPONE AND PECAN WONTONS

Steps:

• Pit the peaches and chop into small dice. In a small saucepan, cook the peaches and sugar over medium heat until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the mascarpone cheese and pecans. Keep the wonton wrappers under a moist towel to prevent drying out. Working one by one, place a heaping tablespoon of peach-mascarpone mixture in the center of the wrapper. Brush egg wash along the top two sides, and then fold into a triangle, squeezing out as much air as possible. Line the finished wontons on a plate and cover with another damp towel until ready to fry.
• In a medium-sized skillet, heat the oil until just smoking. Working in batches, fry the wontons until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove the wontons to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with confectioners' sugar.

PEAR-WALNUT QUINOA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook 1 cup tricolor quinoa (rinsed) as the label directs. Spread on a plate to cool. Whisk 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon minced shallot and 1 teaspoon dijon mustard in a large bowl. Whisk in 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add 1 chopped pear, 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, 2 sliced celery stalks and the quinoa; toss. Season with salt and pepper.

PEAR-WALNUT-CRANBERRY QUICK BREAD WITH VANILLA BEAN GLAZE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly brush one 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan or three 6-by-3-by-2-inch mini loaf pans with melted butter and set aside.
• Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add the cranberries and walnuts and toss together. Set aside.
• Whisk together the melted butter, yogurt, vanilla extract, eggs and grated zest if using in a small bowl. Stir in the shredded pears. Fold this mixture into the flour mixture until just incorporated.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan(s). Tap the bottom on a hard surface a few times and smooth the top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes for the regular and 35 to 40 minutes for the minis. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes, then turn the bread out and let cool completely on the rack.
• Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla bean seeds in a small bowl.
• Pour the glaze over the bread and allow to set at room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PEAR AND GORGONZOLA RAVIOLI WITH WALNUTS AND ROSEMARY BUTTER

Steps:

• Filling -- In a medium non stick sauce pan on medium heat add the pears, dried and fresh, shallots and cook until the pears start to break down. The pears should give enough moisture so no oil or butter is needed. Cook until they are soft but not "mush." You still want a little texture to it. Remove and let cool.
• Add the cooled pear mix to the gorgonzola, ricotta and pepper and mix well. I like to chill this before I use this as a filling.
• Make the ravioli -- take a wonton wrapper and wet the edges just using water and your finger and then add a teaspoon of the filling to the wonton and press corner to corner to make a triangle. Press well to make sure the edges are sealed and get all the air out around the center around the filling. Once done, move to a cookie sheet lined with parchment or wax paper until you finish making the rest of the raviolis.
• In a large pot of boiling water it is time to cook the ravioli. I like to cook this on a medium boil. NOT on high. To high of heat will just cause the raviolis to bread up. Add the raviolis 6 or 7 at a time, don't over crowd the pot and boil 1-2 minutes until they float to the surface. Once they float -- they are done. Remove and set on a cookie sheet until cooled.
• Now you can pan saute and serve them now or you store them in a ziplock for a day or so until ready.
• Saute -- In a medium non stick pan add 1 teaspoon of the butter and heat to medium. Add the ravioli and lightly pan sear. You just want to lightly brown and slightly crisp up, just a minute or so per side is all they need, and to heat up. Remove the ravioli to a serving bowl and cover.
• Sauce -- Add the wine to the pan and then the remaining butter, rosemary and walnuts, a little salt and pepper to taste. Cook another minute and pour over the ravioli.
• Enjoy them! They are a treat.