Category Archives: Food and Drink Recipes

Pear Waldorf Salad

Andrea Slonecker By on

During those weeks between the holidays at this time of year, a crunchy, fresh salad with a wintery undertone is just what we crave. The Waldorf Salad may be traditionally made with apples, but we love it with the soft, seductive sweetness of ripe pears. Instead of gloppy mayonnaise, we toss crisp celery and fennel, toasted walnuts, grapes, and those succulent pears with Greek yogurt for a tangy take. Fresh herbs and sunflower seeds add texture and a modern feel. Serve the salad spooned into butter lettuce or radicchio leaves, or scoop it up with warm pita bread for a light and simple lunch. Serves 4 to 6 Ingredients: 2 ripe USA Red Anjou Pears, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks 1 small fennel bulb, trimmed, reserving fronds, cored, and sliced 3 ribs celery with leaves, stalks sliced and leaves Continue reading →

Hasselback Baked Pear Oatmeal Bowl

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This warming bowl of oats is the perfect way to start a chilly morning! Naturally sweetened with banana, this breakfast is topped with a caramelized, soft, hasselback baked pear. Prep the pears the night before, and you can throw this bowl together in 5 minutes! Serves 2 Ingredients: 1 cup dry oatmeal (old fashioned or quick) 1 large ripe banana 1 USA Bosc pear Coconut oil Pumpkin Pie Spice or Apple Pie Spice 1 tbsp chia seeds Creamy almond butter (other nut butter is fine) Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Slice pear in half and remove seeds. Cut side down, make narrow slits into each half, being careful not to slice all the way through. Grease a small cast iron skillet or baking dish with coconut oil. Place pears cut side down in skillet. Sprinkle with a little Continue reading →

Ginger Roasted Beets, Sweet Potatoes and Pears

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  This recipe is the perfect way to celebrate the bounty of fall and winter produce. The two root vegetables partnered with Anjou pears (green or red) are beautifully enhanced by the addition of fresh ginger and thyme. Present this at your next holiday gathering and be prepared to have guests swooning! Ingredients: 3 medium-large beets, peeled and diced into 1 inch cubes 1 sweet yellow onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced 2 large sweet potatoes, diced into 1 inch cubes (peel or keep skin on, either works) 2 green Anjou pears (ripe but still firm) 1-2 tsp fresh thyme Salt to taste 1-2 tbsp Avocado oil or olive oil 1-2 tsp chopped fresh parsley (optional) Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a Continue reading →

Pear and Sausage Stuffing

Andrea Slonecker By on

Whether you are a “stuffing” or a “dressing” kind of person, pears add a magical twist when served alongside your holiday bird. Because they are sautéed and then baked, the pears are meant to be meltingly soft in this side dish, and any variety will do. Sausage adds a piquant kick, and don’t skimp on those fresh herbs. Consider this recipe another delicious vehicle for getting pears on your Thanksgiving table. Serves 8 Ingredients: 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing and brushing 1 (20-ounce) loaf white bread, crusts trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage 1 sweet yellow onion, chopped 3 celery ribs, chopped 12 ounces mild Italian pork sausage (casings removed if the sausage is in links) 2 ripe USA Pears, stemmed, cored, and cut into Continue reading →

These 15 Pear-a-licious Dishes Will Win Thanksgiving

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Between family gatherings, office parties and every kind of celebration in between, we often find ourselves overindulging during the holidays. This isn’t a bad thing as we all deserve to treat ourselves every once in a while. This is where pears come in! Besides being sweet, juicy and delicious, they are also high in fiber and are sodium free, fat-free, and cholesterol free, plus they’re a good source of vitamin C! Pears can make for a creative and healthier alternative to many holiday dishes. Even if whatever you’re cooking isn’t super healthy, you can at least add nutritional value simply by including pears. Plus, all 10 varieties of USA Pears are in season right now, which means there are lots of possibilities when it comes to using them in whatever you cook. With Thanksgiving around the corner, we decided to dig Continue reading →

Pear Pecan Pumpkin Spice Bread

Bonnie Taub-Dix By on

Some “breads” are actually quite sweet and sugary, acting more like cake than bread. This Pear Pecan Pumpkin Spice Bread lets the naturally sweet taste of the pears shine through without any added sugar AND it pears perfectly (pun intended) with savory dishes like a steamy bowl of butternut squash soup. It’ll also look beautiful on your holiday table! Makes 1 loaf Ingredients: 2 fresh ripe USA Pears – peel, core, cut into pieces 2 fresh USA Pears with stem – cut in half (leave core attached), core and peel 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon pumpkin spice 2 teaspoons cocoa – unsweetened ½ cup extra virgin olive light oil or avocado oil ½ cup plain Greek yogurt – Continue reading →

Fall is the Pear-fect Time for Sweet Swaps

Bonnie Taub-Dix By on

Let me set the record straight: there’s no one food that’s a miracle cure for all ailments, nor is there just one food that is responsible for causing all of our health issues. Balance is what’s key when it comes to a healthy diet. If there is one food that adds calories without adding much value, it’s sugar. Sugar is what I call, The Master of Disguise, appearing more often on food labels than you might realize, and not always spelled as s-u-g-a-r. These aliases can show up on ingredient lists as molasses, high fructose corn syrup, organic cane juice, and dozens of other names. The good news is that our new food labels (on or before January 2020) will finally differentiate between natural sugar (the sugar that is inherently within foods like milk, yogurt and fruit) and added sugar Continue reading →

Pear and Pumpkin Pancakes with Cider Syrup

Andrea Slonecker By on

Chilly fall mornings are back! Before bundling up the family for a trip to the pumpkin patch, fill them up with a hearty breakfast that celebrates the season. Grated pears add sweetness to a fall favorite, pumpkin pancakes, limiting the sugar and bumping up the nutrition. Here it’s best to use a tender, juicy pear variety that is on the sweeter side, such as Bartlett, Comice, Anjou, or Starkrimson. To top it off, pear cider is cooked down with maple syrup to make a simple yet delicious all-natural syrup for drizzling. Serve with bacon and eggs for a complete brunch while entertaining houseguests when the holidays roll around. These fluffy flapjacks are sure to be a new family favorite. Makes 12 pancakes (serves 4 to 6) Pancakes 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking Continue reading →

Grilled Pear and Lamb Flatbreads

Andrea Slonecker By on
pear and ground lamb flatbread with fresh mint

Pears and meat are a winning combination. We often think of pork and chicken with fruit, but let’s not overlook lamb. That robust flavor is deliciously complemented by sweet, aromatic charred pears hot off the grill, and both partner perfectly with Middle Eastern flavors. Here we have a complete meal cooked almost entirely on the grill. A very simple dough is rolled out to make homemade flatbreads that get cooked right on the grill, and then topped with sliced grilled pears and red onions, spiced ground lamb, charred halloumi cheese, and an addictive yogurt-tahini sauce. Think of these flatbreads as a pizza of sorts, perfect for a patio party, and they’re as delicious hot as they are at room temperature. Serves 6 Dough 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 1 cup whole-wheat flour 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 Continue reading →

Beat the Heat!

Amy Kweller MS, RD By on
Creamy pear popsicles with chunks of kiwi and yellow sticks

Summer is my favorite season, because of the social gatherings, barbecues, picnics, and summer treats that satisfy my sweet tooth. I pay attention to my calorie intake carefully – especially during the hot summer when cold, decadent treats are everywhere. So, what is a dietitian to do? Make popsicles, of course! Anything that can be made into juice or a smoothie can also be made into a delicious popsicle that fulfills that sweet craving, cools you off, and packs in nutrients without unnecessary calories. Making popsicles is very easy, in fact it’s a fun activity for the whole family. And you don’t need any molds or special equipment, paper cups and popsicle sticks will suffice. For this method, place the cups on a tray, fill them ¾ full, cover the cups with saran wrap, and press the sticks through to Continue reading →