Warm Caramel Pears Food

CARAMEL PEARS

Steps:

• Microwave 10 ounces unwrapped soft caramels with 1 tablespoon half-and-half, stirring every 20 seconds, until smooth. Pour into a wide mug, then quickly dip 4 pears in the caramel, sprinkle with chopped pistachios and let set on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

CARAMEL-PEAR COBBLER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Cut 2 Tbsp. butter into small pieces; toss with pears, sugar, spices and 2 Tbsp. flour. Spoon into 9-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.
• Combine baking powder and remaining flour in medium bowl. Cut in remaining butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add sour cream and 1/2 cup milk; stir until blended. Drop in large spoonfuls over pear mixture.
• Bake 40 to 50 min. or until pears are tender and topping is golden brown; cool slightly.
• Microwave caramels and remaining milk in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until caramels are completely melted and sauce is well blended, stirring every 30 sec. Serve over the warm cobbler.

ROASTED AND CARAMELIZED PEARS

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with water and squeeze a lemon into it. Peel each pear, leaving a small crown of skin around the stem. Carefully core each, keeping pear intact. As the pears are peeled, place in the water.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• In large nonreactive ovenproof skillet, combine sugar, vinegar and 1/2 cup of water. Cook, without stirring, over medium heat until mixture is lightly caramelized. Remove from heat.
• While caramel is cooking, remove pears from water, draining them well. When caramel is done, roll pears in caramel, turning them with 2 wooden spoons. Do not touch caramel. Stand pears up in the pan, place pan in oven, and roast pears about 45 minutes, basting them frequently with caramel in the pan, until they are tender and golden brown. Keep the basting spoon in a dish of warm water to prevent it from getting sticky.
• Using wooden spoons, carefully transfer pears to a rack placed over a sheet of foil, and allow them to drain. Return skillet to top of stove, whisk in the cream and bring to a simmer. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Serve pears with warm sauce and vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt on the side.

CARAMELIZED PEARS WITH BLACK PEPPER-CARAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove seeds from pear halves with a large melon baller, and trim off 1/4 inch from the bottom of each pear half so it will stand upright on a plate. Place the water in a 12-inch nonstick skillet and pour the sugar into the center of the pan, taking care not to let the crystals adhere to the sides of the pan. bring to a boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is bubbling wildly. Add the pears to the skillet, cut-side down, cover, reduce the heat to medium-high, and cook until the pears are nearly tender (a paring knife inserted into the center of the pears feels slight resistance).
• Uncover, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the sauce is golden brown and the cut sides of the pears are partly caramilzed, 3 to 5 minutes. Pour the heavy cream around the pears and cook, shaking the pan back and forth, until the sauce is a smooth, deep caramel color and the cut sides of the pears are beautifully golden 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Using tongs, carefully remove the pears from the pan and place cut-side up on a wire rack set over a trimmed baking sheet. Cool slightly. Season the sauce left in the pan with salt to taste and the crushed black pepper, then pour it into a liquid measuring cup.
• Carefully (the pears will still be hot) stand each pear half upright on an individual plate and arrange a wedge of the blue sheese beside it. Drizzle the plate and some of the pear with the caramel sauce. Serve immediately. (Alternatively, the pears can be stood upright on a large serving platter, and the warm caramel sauce and the blue cheese can be passed separately.).
• TECHNIQUE: Coring a Pear 1. Cut the fruit in half from stem to blossom end. Use a melon baller to cut around the central core with a circular motion. 2. Draw the melon baller from the central core to the top of the pear, removing the interior portion of the stem as you go.