Tag Archives: pears

Poached Pears with Spiced Ricotta

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IMG_9515With Autumn’s official arrival, some people are excited about the crispier air & the changing colors, but as always I am excited about the food. Of course, I am eyeing those winter squash and pumpkins, but at the moment I want to talk about the fruits of fall and how a ting of spice can make magic.

Lately, we have been swimming in apples. We find apple tree owners who are overwhelmed by their supply and we arrive with ladders or small children on our shoulders and lend a hand. We are always happily to adopt your fruit, by the way! Certainly, we feel we are the true benefactors as I haven’t spent a dime on apples in months. My children happily pick them up and start munching at nearly any opportunity. My one-year old isn’t even picky as he picks up apples off the floor that have previously been nibbled on, most likely by him. We certainly feel grateful for these apples. However, lately I have been dreaming about a similar fruit, but with a slightly sexier shape: the pear.

I have this vague but happy childhood memory of canned pears that my Mom would dollop with ricotta and call breakfast. I loved it! That was entirely the inspiration for this simple, yet elegant breakfast.

Poaching in juice is certainly the appropriate way to go if you will be starting your day with this dish, but if you prefer to call this dessert (or a fancy-schmany brunch?) by all means use champagne, riesling, prosecco or any drinkably delicious white wine.

When poaching fruit a low simmer is ideal, but I like to get there quickly by turning the heat high first and I keep a close eye on it. If possible, reduce the hot juice just before you see more than a couple of bubbles burst along the edges of the pan.

After the fruit is removed, blast that heat high and reduce the juice (or vino!) into the most lovely sauce.

There is really only one way to make this dish a more delightful, which is to make a farmers cheese/ricotta from scratch. Stop it. I see that eye roll! What if I told you that making the cheese is probably easier to make than these Poached Pears? Well, you might just have to stay close to this blog, because I will be posting the creamy farmers cheese recipe soon. Although, this one will get you by for a bit, too.

And now… may I introduce:

Poached Pears with Spiced Ricotta
Serves two for breakfast, or four for dessert 

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2 cups pear nectar or apple juice
1 cinnamon stick or a pinch of ground cinnamon
1 whole star anise pod, or a 1/2 teaspoon ground star anise
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, ideally freshly grated off a whole nutmeg piece
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 cup ricotta cheese or fresh farmers cheese

Place the peeled and deseeded pears in a saucepan in an even layer. Pour the juice on top and add enough water to just barely cover the pears. Add all of the spices: ground or stick of cinnamon, star anise, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Bring up to a simmer over high heat. Reduce immediately to a slight simmer, cover with a lid and cook 5 minutes. Flip over the pears and continue to cook another 5-8 minutes until just barely tender.

Remove the pears, set aside to drain and cool slightly. Raise the temperature on the poaching liquid to high. Reduce for 8-12 minutes until only about 1/2 cup of syrupy liquid is remaining.

Whisk a few tablespoons of the reduced juice into the ricotta or farmers cheese. Serve the pears with the poaching liquid drizzled around and the spiced cheese filling the inside of the pear.

What fruits are you excited about this season?

Cook seasonally. Eat consciously. Live well,

Chef Lilly

photo-143Just after graduating from college, I remember browsing through a bookstore and spoting a cutie-pootie on the cover of a cookbook called the Naked Chef. Soon after, I moved to San Luis Obispo to live closer to my family and actually moved in with my older sister, bro-in-law and their four sweet little ones. Living about three hours from my dearest college friend, meant I traveled up there frequently to hang out and enjoy the city life. One of my favorite parts about visiting was her and her roomies was that they had one of Jamie Oliver’s books. I can no longer remember which, but I would skim the pages while crashing on their pull-out bed and dream of making Fresh Beet Pastas and beautiful salads.

During this time, I remember seeing him prepare a Roasted Chicken in Milk and I always wanted to try it. Clearly, I managed to keep that memory strong for at least 10 years.

Recently, we decided to have our milk delivered and we intentionally buy just a bit too much milk. My idea was it would force me to make cheese & yogurt from scratch. I have had much success with ricotta. And Lulu has become the yogurt queen. But, I have yet to make Mozzarella- although, I made a botched batch that turned into a delightful ricotta instead.

Prior to dinner, knowing I had a happy chicken to roast up, I looked into the fridge and realized we had at least a gallon more than necessary, since the milk man was coming again the next day. Suddenly, the Milk Chicken recipe came flooding back and not long after it was assembled and in the oven.

I made a few minor changes. I can’t find my cinnamon sticks (long story, about not unpacking all of my spices yet. Argh.), so that was scratched. I used the zest of only one lemon, mostly because it was a big lemon. But, I was generous with the sage and garlic.photo-142

Of course, I couldn’t let the chicken have all the fun.

With a large bag of ripe pears sitting on the table, I cut them into similar sized, rustic-style chunks and tossed them with slices of onions and a generous splash of olive oil and sprinkle of salt. I pushed the casserole dish onto the bottom shelf below the roasting chicken and prepared the kale in large torn pieces. I massage the kale with olive oil and more salt, too. Once the pears and onions were ready for a playdate, I added the kale and piled the hot goodness on top of the bed of greens. The were back for a few more minutes altogether. Some of the kale became crisp, while others melted. The flavors merged together to make a comforting, yet refreshing side dish.

This is important: The milk sauce of Jamie’s Milk Chicken will be more of a flavorful juicy mess of curds and whey rather than some sort of creamy concoction. This sauce is the liquid gold, although the look is hardly reflective of the flavor. In other words, it is grey, curdled, awkward. Have a hearty artisan bread on stand by to scoop the goodness up or consider drizzling it across a steamy pile of grains such as wild rice or farro. Whatever you do, dive into this sauce. Love it like that geeky, awkward kid that you once were. And whatever you do, try this jazzy little Autumn side dish with it. You will not regret the main dish or the side.

Roasted Pear &  Kale

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2-3 pears
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 large bunch of kale

Preheat the oven to 375.

Cut the onions each into six quarters. If it is a medium onion, cut a bit smaller.

Cut the pears in half and remove the cores. Cut the pears into 2 inch pieces. Toss the onions and pears with a generous splash of the olive oil and half of the salt in a large casserole dish. Roast for about 10 minutes until the onions are sweating and the pears have a hint of color.

Wash the kale and dry it. Tear it into large pieces. Toss the kale with the remaining olive oil, salt and massage the oil into the leaves.

Push the pears and onions to the side of the pan. Pile the kale into the casserole dish and then scoop the pears and onions on top of the kale. Roast for 10 minutes. Toss and continue roasting until the kale is your desired tenderness.

photo-141