Month: December 2020

Pear Recipes & Ideas to Make all Winter Season

Plentiful, delicious and exceptionally nutritional, the pear is extremely versatile and can be used in many breakfast, lunch, dinner & dessert recipes! Since December is recognized as National Pear Month, Fiorentino’s Farm Market is honoring this diverse fruit by providing 6 easy & delicious pear recipes you can cook throughout the winter season. From decadent desserts to savory dinner inspirations, there are endless ways you can enjoy the pear without having to be an expert chef. Head down to your local farmers market to pick up a fresh, in season basket of pears and get inspired to work wonders in the kitchen!

10 Sweet & Savory Pear Recipes

Pear Crisp: A classic fall apple recipe gets a creative upgrade for the winter holidays. Toss the pears in a little orange juice then sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Top with ingredients for the crumble: flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder and butter. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream. This is one of the pear recipes on this list we guarantee you’ll be baking over and over. Pear Salsa: Combine chopped pears with a red onion, mint, lime juice and a jalapeno pepper for a unique twist on the classic tomato salsa. Serve this with tortillas chips or as a topping on grilled pork chops. Poached Pears: This elegant dessert pear recipe is sure to impress the guests at your next holiday party! This easy recipe can be cooked ahead of time by simply emerging the fruits in a boiling pot of water, honey and sugar. Let that simmer for up to 30 minutes, transfer into a covered container & keep in the fridge overnight. Serve on its own, drizzle with chocolate or pair with ice cream. Pear Coleslaw: Add thinly sliced pears to a classic coleslaw recipe for an elevated taste that pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, ribs, a hamburger and so much more! Green Smoothie: If you’re tired of the same old banana & peanut butter smoothie, try our pear rendition for a sweet, but still healthy smoothie. A few creative smoothie pear recipes include:

1. Pears, kale, banana, ginger & cinnamon
2. Red beets, pears, lemon juice & honey
3. Spinach, banana and pear

Pear Bellini: A twist on the delicious peach Bellini, this recipe shows you how to easily make your own peach nectar, which is blended and combined with vodka and champagne. Pear Chips: You can use any kind of pear you like, but Bartlett pears are the most common. Simply slice your pear into very thin, uniform slices and lay out evenly on parchment paper. Here, you can leave them plain or sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar, ginger or chai spice. Bake in the oven at 225 degrees for 1 – 1.5 hours depending on how crispy you’d like them. Pear and Gorgonzola Salad: First, combine white vinegar, pear halves and a dash of salt & pepper in a blender until smooth. In a salad bowl, combine mixed salad greens, sliced pears, tomato, walnuts and gorgonzola cheese. Sprinkle with homemade dressing and toss in leftover protein! Apple-Pear Puff Pancake: Blend eggs, milk, flour, sugar and nutmeg until smooth and immediately pour into a hot, ovenproof skillet. Bake until puffed & brown, 17 – 20 minutes. While that’s baking, cook apples, pears and sugar until tender. Remove pancake from over, fill with fruit mixture and serve immediately.   Pear Pork Chops: Not all pear recipes have to be sweet! In a large skillet, brown your pork chops and sprinkle with chopped pears and sweet red pepper. Prepare a box of cornbread stuffing mix while chops are cooking. Once done, top pork chops with stuffing and onions, cook in the oven uncovered for 8 – 10 minutes.

Winter Recipes & Inspirations

While there are not many options for fresh fruits & vegetables when we get into the thick of winter, take advantage of the versatile pear in the months of December and January! We hope these easy pear recipes inspire you to get into the kitchen and cook up something delicious. For more seasonal ideas, check out our summer peach recipes, fall apple recipes or ways you can preserve your summer produce.