Slow Cooked Gingered Pears Food

SLOW-COOKED GINGERED PEARS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the ginger, brown sugar, pecans and lemon zest. Using a melon baller or long-handled spoon, core pears to within 1/4 in. of bottom. Spoon ginger mixture into the center of each. , Place pears upright in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Top each with butter. Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until tender. Serve with ice cream and caramel topping if desired.

SLOW COOKER SPICED POACHED PEARS

Steps:

• In a 3-qt. slow cooker, mix wine, brown sugar, cherries, cinnamon, star anise and, if desired, peppercorn until blended. Peel and cut pears lengthwise in half. Remove cores, leaving a small well in the center of each. Arrange pears in wine mixture., Cook, covered, on low 4-5 hours or until pears are almost tender. Discard star anise and peppercorn., Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; stir with a whisk until smooth., To serve, remove pears to dessert dishes; drizzle with some of the poaching liquid. Spoon ganache into wells of pears. Top with pine nuts and blackberries. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

GINGER PEAR CAKE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a 9 by 13 by 2-inch baking dish with vegetable cooking spray. Line the pan with parchment or waxed paper.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pears and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice and remove pan from the heat.
• Whisk the flour, ginger, the remaining 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
• In another bowl, whisk the milk, molasses, and remaining brown sugar. Add the eggs and whisk until smooth. Use a spatula to stir the molasses mixture into the dry ingredients to make a thick liquid batter.
• Heat the water and remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan until just boiling. Whisk the hot water into to the batter until just combined. Stir in the pears. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake in the center of the oven, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
• Cool cake in the pan on a rack. Cut into 12 squares. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving, if desired.

GINGER-PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Add the first 4 ingredients to the slow cooker; stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
• Remove the lid and stir in the fresh and ground ginger.
• Increase temperature setting to HIGH; cook, uncovered, 1-2 hours, to thicken and blend, stirring occasionally.
• Let cool completely, then transfer to glass jars or other containers with tight fitting lids; store in the refrigerator where they will keep for several weeks.

GINGER-SPICED PEARS

Steps:

• Put the sugar, vinegar, orange zest and juice, ginger, bay leaves and peppercorns in a large pan. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar, then boil for 5 mins.
• Meanwhile, peel, core and halve or quarter the pears, depending on size. Add the pears to the pan and poach gently for 10-15 mins until they are just tender. Remove with a slotted spoon and pack into warm sterilised Kilner jars with rubber seals (see tip below).
• Boil the vinegar mixture hard to reduce by a third, then pour over the pears, including the spices. The pears need to be completely covered with the liquid. Fit the rubber seal and clamp the jar tightly closed. Reserve any leftover syrup for topping up the jars later, as the pears will absorb the syrup over time. Store for up to 2 months.

GINGER PEARS

Steps:

• Use a saucepan that has a cover and is large enough to hold the pears upright in a single layer.
• Place the water, sugar, rind, and juice in the saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the mixture comes to a boil; stir in the ginger and set aside.
• With a vegetable peeler, peel the pears; if necessary, trim the bottoms a bit so they will stand upright.
• Place the pears in the syrup, cover, and cook over medium heat; baste the pears frequently (a ladle is handy for this since the ginger might get stuck in a bulb baster).
• Do not over cook; test with a cake tester or toothpick; when they pierce easily they are done; start testing after 20 minutes.
• When the pears are just tender, transfer them with a slotted spoon to a shallow bowl.
• Add the marmalade to the syrup and let boil for 5 minutes.
• Then add in the cognac, and pour the hot sauce over the pears.
• With a ladle or large spoon baste occasionally until cool; cover and refrigerate.
• Serve each pear standing upright in a compote or dessert bowl, with several spoonfuls of the syrup.