There are
recipes that are good because of their simplicity. I think this spice-poached
apples and pears is one of them. It´s Friday again, time for another recipe
from the book Around My French Table for our FFWD group.
As I was peeling
the fruit while the syrup was simmering, I had a contented feeling of
peacefulness and wonder for the simple things. Fruits and spices do that for
me. They remind me of the primal aspects of food and of myself in relation to
the food. It connects me to my passion for it.
So I really
enjoyed this recipe. Apples and pears are poached in a wonderfully fragrant
syrup.
First a
mixture of honey, sugar, lemon and orange peels, star anise, cinnamon and
vanilla are boiled, the fruit is then dropped inside and cooked until tender.
Finally the syrup is reduced and the baked fruit is bathed with it. So simple
and yet so versatile.
For the record, I never thought I would use my vegetable peeler so much, first for cucumber and zucchini ribbons, now for citrus peel. It´s turning out to be a most important gadget in Dorie-related recipes.
I used to
poach pears to make the most wonderful frangipane pear tart, which I still have
on my recipes-I-love-which-I-want-to-make-again-and-post list. I will get to it
soon.
Today it
was only about the soft, spiced and tender fruit, which I ate with a spoon
directly from the bowl after I took some pictures. Not even a dollop of cream,
which would be a great addition.
Tomorrow it
will all be about pear and chocolate handpies made with this wonderful spiced pears. Yes, the most delicious mini
pies for dessert.
Check out
the rest of the group´s attempts at this recipe. Find the recipe here.
I love simple recipes too, they are a perfect comfort food! :-) I am excited to see your next recipe, what a fun idea to put the pears in a handpie! :-) Hugs, Terra
ReplyDeleteWe used apples and I think pears would have been better - looking forward to the pies!
ReplyDeleteYes, so simple and so versatile - I loved this one too :)
ReplyDeleteI love simple food too. This sounds lovely. Just the thing for a chilly evening.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right the simplicity of this dessert was wonderful and the smells were great too. Yours came out beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI definitely want to try this with pears, too. I like poached fruit any way I can get it.
ReplyDeleteI loved the way this smelled while it was cooking - if someone had a pot of this simmering on the stove while I was house hunting, I would be sold!
ReplyDeleteOn tuesday I poached some apples from the family garden (surplus!). No vanilla. Cardamom + clove instead. Next time I'll try with pears... Apples and pears, such a lovely couple! ;-)
ReplyDeletePaula, your poached fruit looks like perfectly delicious comfort food at its best! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend and happy baking for the Chocolate and Pear Handpies, I am sure that they will look beautiful and very pretty!
Simple but flavoursome I reckon with some Ice cream these could be quite indulgent :)
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
I found this recipe led to a little contemplation, too. I love your pretty presentation - we went for a homier version, with ice cream. I like the idea of chocolate pear handpies, with all the flavours infused by this poaching liquid. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteYeah, pears were the way to go! I love all poached fruit so this was a no-brainer.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful bowl of yumminess! Can't wait to see your frangipane tart :)
ReplyDeleteThe poached fruit was delicious and a very easy and elegant dessert. Your spiced fruit looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour furit looks lovely. You are right, this was a great recipe. It was simple and delicious:)
ReplyDeleteHey, both is better! Looks great.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I'm amazed how much we've been using our vegetable peeler lately! And, I loved the sauce as well.
ReplyDeleteSo you put the apples and pears together. Good for you. Never thought of that. Duh. I agree. Simple. Niccceee. I leave for SA tomorrow and will keep in touch as I travel toward BA. We'll make a plan but we definitely have the date. I am so looking forward to this.
ReplyDeleteThere is something so comforting about the spices in this dish. I love the idea of combining them with chocolate. Mmmm.
ReplyDelete(I hope this doesn't post twice. think blogger ate my comment. :-) The spice in this dish are so comforting and I love the idea of poached pears and chocolate. mmmm.
ReplyDeleteYour first pic looks so warm and inviting, I can smell the spices and feel Fall in the air! Have fun with Mary in Bs As!
ReplyDeleteI love your photos! This really was so simple and so delicious.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I love about cooking as well. It's a simple pleasure that gives me so much satisfaction and peace.
It looks like a winner with most Doristas. Yours turned out well. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Paula!! Your pears look perfect!! Funny how our peelers have been having a good work out lately! I loved the fragrance that permeated my kitchen after making these…and they were so good!! Have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteI concur with all the Doristas on how stunning your photos are - just lovely. And I concur with you about the joy this simple dish brought. Very much invokes all the reasons we love to be in the kitchen. Extra credit points for trying to get pies out of the yummy pears !
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about the simplicity. I know that your seasons are opposite in South America, but here, the syrup's flavors catches the autumn season perfectly. Such comfort food! My attempt with apples failed, though I ended up with a tasty applesauce. I just bought some pears to try again. Enjoy your visit with Mary. Take some photos to share with us!
ReplyDeletehand pies...YUMMY!!!
ReplyDelete