Pulled Pork and Pear Tacos with Pear Pico de Gallo

Pulled Pork and Pear Tacos with Pear Pico de Gallo

Time for a taco party! In this festive recipe, pears appear in two ways: braised with pork shoulder to create depth and sweetness for a juicy, shredded taco filling, and also mixed into a zesty pear and jicama pico de gallo for topping. There will be plenty of the flavorful slow-cooked meat to feed a crowd, and any leftovers can be frozen for quick taco making for future weeknight dinners. Serve with margaritas and chips and salsa to round out the menu. Ingredients: 3 1/2 pounds pork shoulder (pork butt) 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon chile powder 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 2 large ripe USA Pears, peeled and chopped 1 small white onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves and stems 4 canned chipotle chiles with a Continue reading

10 Pear Cocktails to Brighten Your Holiday Spirit

Hailed as a “gift of the gods” by the Greek poet Homer in his epic The Odyssey, the venerable pear has graced civilizations for more than four thousand years. For a chunk of that time, crafty folks have been incorporating the fruit into their alcoholic beverages. Like other fruits, pears are a delicious and creative ingredient, and it’s no surprise that mixologists jump at the chance to include them in their libations. Even though there are plenty of reasons to eat pears for their nutritious value, there are also reasons incorporate pears into more fun parts of the menu. Whether muddled, juiced, mixed, pureed, shaken or stirred, pears present countless possibilities as a cocktail ingredient. Because it’s the holiday season as well as pear season – not to mention National Pear Month – we figure there’s no better time to Continue reading

Sweet Vermouth Poached Pears

Sweet vermouth has really made a comeback thanks to the craft cocktail movement, and I am so glad it did. Without it, I’d have never tried a Manhattan and noticed the distinct and wonderful flavors that a good vermouth can lend, not to mention that I’d have never come up with the idea for this unique recipe. Pick up a bottle for making these poached pears and pour yourself a little over an ice cube to enjoy while you cook. You won’t be sorry. Sweet Vermouth Poached Pears Ingredients 3 cups good quality sweet vermouth, such as Carpano Antica 1 cup water 2 tablespoons honey 1 orange, peel only (use a vegetable peeler to cut several thin strips) 2 cinnamon sticks 6 whole cloves 3 firm USA Pears, such as Bosc Greek yogurt, for serving Directions In a medium saucepan, Continue reading

Pear-Infused Vodka and Chai Cocktail

Here is an elegant and delicious cocktail for you to enjoy this holiday season. You’ll need to infuse the vodka at least 10 days in advance, so be sure to grab some pears on your next trip to the grocery store! I recommend buying a mix of colorful pears for this recipe – the skins will turn your vodka a lovely honey-rose color as the flavor infuses. Then make a simple syrup with chai tea and shake up this sweet-and-spicy cocktail. If you find cocktails like this too strong for your liking, try dividing a single recipe between 3 or 4 champagne flutes and topping with a dry, sparkling wine. You’ll get all the wonderful flavor with much less alcohol. Cheers! Ingredients Pear-Infused Vodka 5 firm ripe USA pears, such as Starkrimson, Green or Red Bartlett, Comice, or Anjou 1 Continue reading

Pear Piña Colada

I’ve been waiting patiently for the warmer weather to arrive to try out my idea for a Pear Piña Colada, and the results are deliciously successful! I love the creamy texture that the pureed pears lend to this cocktail, and using them allows you to cut down on the amount of coconut cream used in a typical recipe without compromising any flavor. The pears also lend a sweet, honey flavor to the cocktail that pairs beautifully with the tangy, fresh pineapple. I added a little unsweetened shredded coconut to my version as well because I love the texture it gives to this drink. Sip on this pear cocktail on a sunny afternoon and you’ll be transported to a tropical paradise! Ingredients 2 ripe USA Pears, such as Bartlett or Anjou, cut into big chunks 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks ¼ Continue reading

Dragon Well

Ring in the New Year with this light and festive drink. Fresh pear, green tea, and lavender flavors combine in this verdant cocktail that delights the senses. Garnish with pomegranate seeds to give this gorgeous green drink an added pop of color. Ingredients 1/3 USA Red Anjou pear, cored and coarsely chopped (do not peel) 1 1/4 ounces pear vodka, such as Grey Goose La Poire or Absolut Pears 1/2 ounce pear liqueur, such as Clear Creek Pear Brandy or Aqua Perfecta Pear Eau de Vie 3/4 ounce green tea-infused simple syrup (see below) 1 ounce pear juice, such as Santa Cruz Organic Pear Nectar Dry Soda-brand Lavender soda Ice Pomegranate seeds, to garnish Directions Put pear chunks in shaker and fill half full with ice. Muddle until pear is broken down. Add pear vodka, pear brandy, green tea syrup Continue reading

Pear Margaritas!

USA Pears are sure to be a hit at your Cinco de Mayo fiesta! Our Mexican friends to the south sent us this recipe that will add some authenticity to your celebration. For under-21 pear lovers, we recommend substituting a lemon-lime soda for the tequila. You don’t have to miss out on the party! Ingredients 2 Anjou Pears ½ cup Tequila 1 stick Cinnamon Sugar, to taste Crushed ice, to taste Crushed cinnamon, to taste (optional) Directions Dice the pears. Put water in a saucepan and cook the pears with the cinnamon stick and the sugar until they are cooked and begin to fall apart. Blend the pears and strain. Put the pear blend back in the blender and add the Tequila, sugar to taste, and ice. Blend and serve in glasses; sprinkle some cinnamon on top (optional). Garnish with Continue reading

Pearty Like It’s 2010

  In this season of gift-giving, I like to think of a nice, high quality cocktail as a small gift that I can give myself.  Now I’m not talking about cheap booze mixed with high fructose corn syrup, I’m talking about a quality spirit, fresh sqeezed or muddled fruit, and an unexpected touch, such as fresh herbs or a hint of spice.  A work of art that’s meant to be sipped and savored.       We have several excellent cocktail recipes that call for fresh pears, which were developed by mixologists across the country.  We’ll even show you how to make super cool pear garnishes and give you ideas for food pairings.  In addition to this superb collection, we also like to keep an eye out for new cocktails.  Enter the latest Imbibe edition, which has a recipe on page 53:  the Continue reading

Eau de vie de poire (also known as pear brandy)

If you live in, near or are visiting Portland and consider yourself a pear lover (who doesn’t?) you simply must visit Clear Creek Distillery.  The owner, Steve McCarthy, has been making pear brandy for over twenty years, and more recently began making pear liqueur as well.  Steve and his crew crush and ferment whole Bartlett pears (grown on Steve’s family farm in Oregon), then distill the pure fruit mash in their German-made pot stills.  Here’s a fun fact I learned on my tour – it takes 30 pounds of Bartletts to make one 750ml bottle of pear brandy!  Now, you can buy one of these bottles for about 40 bucks (smaller sizes are also available), or you can bite the bullet and spring for the Pear-in-the-Bottle version for about twice as much.  This is a beautiful product because they actually Continue reading