People around me are getting sick.
*washes hands*
Dropping like flies, they are.
*takes a multi-vitamin*
And I am in close proximity to one of them.
*snuggles up to the plague on the other end of the couch*
Yes... the weather is changing. I have no doubt this has something to do with the strange epidemic floating through the air. But you know what? It's all good. Because she's eating my dessert as her main meal, even though I know she can't taste a thing.
Guess who she reminds me of... just guess.
Yes. Meg Ryan, for this very reason.
On to the dessert, yes?
This begins with pears. Six pears (as you can see, I mismatched mine). You could do all of the same... but, I like a mixture, myself. The green ones were crunchy and tart, and the yellow/red ones were soft and sweet like honey. I find that if you do all green ones, the tart becomes bitter. And then if you're all "let's do the soft ones!" it is sickeningly sweet. Bleeeeeeeeend.
Pears are then peeled, cored, and sliced thinly. Verrrrrry thinly. Godfather style.
(Okay... maybe a little thicker than that.)
The pear slices are dressed in water and lemon juice to prevent browning.
Lemon makes everything better. Brighter.
Oh goodness... the topping. The oats are really what make this wonderful. Chewy, crunchy, and nutty flavored.
Then there's flour for thickening, brown sugar for depth of flavor, white sugar, and cinnamon. Lots of cinnamon.
Mmmmmmmmm.
Finally... melted butter. Just a mess of it. Blended with a pastry blender until crumbly and then dumped on top of the readied pears. I felt like a kid in a sandbox.
 |
| Little Known Fact: That isn't a doily. That's my shirt. |
Bake it and feed to sick girlfriends on their mother's plates. Possibly have this for lunch tomorrow.
Luscious Pear Crisp
Inspired by the butter queen herself, Paula Deen
6 pears (your favorite variety), peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup of water
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups (2 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
*preheat the oven to 350 degrees*
1. In a deep 9 inch baking dish, toss together the pear slices, lemon juice, and water. Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, stir together the oats, flour, sugars, and cinnamon. Pour in the melted butter and combine with a pastry blender (or a wooden spoon) until crumbly. Cover the pears with the oat mixture and bake for 45 - 55 minutes, when the crisp top gets brown and the pears are bubbling.