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Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Skillet Pear Crisp

I know I often mention how I bring food over to share with the neighbors.  Well, that's not a one way street...they bring me food, too! Hooray for food-bringing neighbors!  Usually it's a gorgeous mushroom they've foraged or some game they've hunted or some fruit or veggie from a relative who grows tons and always organically, I might add.  This is all aside from the open invitation to their garden goodies.  Yes indeedy...I have some amazing neighbors.  I will overlook the fact that they throw their verdolagas into the compost.  A few weeks ago, they offered up an overflowing bag of pears.  I should say they asked me if I'd like some.  Ummm....how many times do I have to tell  you to stop asking...I will ALWAYS say yes.  Just unload all the food you want on me.  I promise I won't turn it away!  One of their relatives has six pear trees on his land and doesn't eat ANY of the fruit they bear.  What a shame.  The upside is that I was gifted with some of the beautiful, imperfect, bug-holed (ie. organic, un-sprayed...and no spray is good...hence, beautiful in my eyes) yellow pears!
Skillet Pear Crisp
from Mexican Everyday by Rick Bayless
serves 6

4 oz. unsalted butter, softened (and divided)
2 pounds pears, cored and peeled (if desired...I didn't desire), cut into ½" slices
 ½ c. plus 2 Tbs. white sugar (divided)
2/3 c. whole wheat flour
½ c. packed dark brown sugar
½ tsp. ground Mexican canela (cinnamon)
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. (3 oz.) toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Preheat oven to 400° F.  Set a 10" skillet w/ ovenproof handle over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of the butter.  When it begins to brown, add the fruit.  Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of of the white sugar.  Cook, stirring regularly, until fruit is soft and most of juice as evaporated and it's beginning to brown, ~10 minutes.

While fruit is cooking, stir together flour, remaining white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl.  Add remaining butter, working in until homogeneous mixture is formed.  With a spoon, stir in pepitas.

Crumble the streusel topping evenly over cooked fruit mixture.  Slide skillet into oven and cook for 10-15 minutes, until topping is crispy.  Serve warm or at room temperature.
...and yes, I did return the favor by dishing some up and bringing it back to my neighbors.  Hopefully that's incentive enough to keep them offering up good bounty!
I am sending this to GYO #46 (Grow Your Own), which is being hosted by MomGateway this month.
GYO

Would you like to comment?

  1. Yummmmmmm... I am just drooling here.. My god.. so tempting.. so delicious looking and crunchy... I love pear.. Love your dish..

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  2. This looks great! I love pears. One questions though, your pumpkin seeds look a lot different than mine, did you buy them or roast them yourself?

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  3. It's awesome that you have such a nice rapport with your neighbors. I love the pepitas added into this delicious pear crisp. I made a mango peach crisp today and I did buy pears to put into something as well. I'll have to give this yummy recipe a try!

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  4. Oh My Goodness-this looks so delicious!!!! The pumpkin seeds would be perfect way to top it too:)

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  5. It's nice to know that someone out there has great neighbors. (Mine are all crazy).

    I am a big time pear fan and I love that you made Bayless's recipe. Bet the pepitas give it that little extra crunch. No ice cream needed with this one!

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  6. Love that you used pumpkin seeds. Awesome recipe.

    Plan B

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  7. I wish I had some free local pears! I can't complain, my friends give me figs and pomegrantes. That looks so good! I love that you used pepitas!

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  8. Wow...I love crisp!~ Looks mouthwatering.

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  9. Wow--what a gorgeous crisp--I especially love the topping with the pepitas, and of course anything pear works for me. ;-)

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  10. Lucky you having such great and generous neighbors. This crisp is a perfect treat especially with a cup of hot chocolate.

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  11. This pears skillet looks both crunchy and flavourful! I love these cute pumpkin seeds!!

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  12. This crisp looks good I think the pumpkin seeds add a nice twist.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

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  13. I have that book! I would have never thought to look there for a pear recipe!

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  14. Hayırlı gĂŒnler, çok gĂŒzel, leziz ve iƟtah açıcı görĂŒnĂŒyor. Ellerinize, emeğinize sağlık.

    Saygılar.

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  15. Ahh…u are so so so making me drool over this..I love pears n this look awesome!

    US Masala

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  16. Delicious. I never thought to top my crisp with pumpkin seeds...nice spike of flavor.

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  17. I need friends with pear trees! Or any fruit trees..
    Delicious!

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  18. Realmente tentadora esta tarta. Que verdadera delicia.

    Saludos

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  19. Any homes for sale in your neighborhood? What a well-loved use for the adopted pears. All I need are the pumpkin seeds....maybe after carving day...

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  20. Pears: What a wonderful gift! And what you did with them looks wonderful, too. Yum!

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  21. What great neighbors, how lucky you are and the pears are stunning, don't people know real fruit does not look perfect? lol great crisp, you can never go wrong with bayless..

    sweetlife

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  22. popping in again from catching up on missed posts, but had to say love the Jim pic at the bottom...GOREGOUS!!

    sweetlife still swooning

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  23. That pear crisp looks absolutely wonderful! I love pears - they are so delicious.

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  24. Delicious looking crisp, I love the addition of the pepitas

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  25. Mmmm, could go for a bowl of that with some vanilla ice cream. Looks so warm & delicious, Heather.

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  26. Hey Girli Chef, so funny-it seems like all the people that have fruit trees here in Florida don't eat any of the fruit either. Meanwhile, I want it and don't have anything more than my papaya tree...
    OOh, pears are my favorite too, and this looks too delicious. Plus, I love a healthful dessert. Perfection!

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  27. How lucky to have such a great friendly neighborhood. The crip looks really good. There is nothing like a warm crisp with a cup of tea.
    Heather I have an award for you. If you would like to accept please stop by. Thanks

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  28. mmm - I never think to buy pears, I don't know why, they are a completely under-rated food - this looks great

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  29. I am loving pears right now! I think your crisp looks just delicious...especially with those pumpkin seeds. What a wonderful addition! And I would love to have friends that would bring me homegrown produce. Thanks for sharing!

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  30. give me anything with a crisp yummy top like that and I'll be happy! You know....pears is one fruit I've never had fresh off the tree. Man, how I'd love to sink my teeth into one of them beauties

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  31. I'd bring you pears if you shared something like this with me. :) It looks yummy- I love the pepitas on top. Lets see now...I have lots of apples, pumpkins, squash and sweet potatoes...maybe we could work something out. :)

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  32. I need to convince someone to move in next door to me whose parents own some kind of farm upstate or something. So that I can reap the benefits.

    This crisp looks amazing and I bet it tasted even than I can imagine because of the homegrown pears. Delicious.

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  33. We had a big pear tree in our yard when I was growing up. My mom was always making pear dishes in the fall and hauling pears all over the country. This looks wonderful Heather.

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  34. What a fantastic dessert with pears! I love the addition of toasted pepitas on top! Excellent!

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  35. I just bought a bunch of pairs the other day. I think you've just given me an idea with what to do with them.

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  36. Wonderful! I like how you added pumpkin seeds, gorgeous!

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  37. What wonderful neighbours both you and your neighbours have (if that made sense, lol). I'm with Louanne, a nice bowl of this with some homemade vanilla ice cream. Mmmmmm......

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  38. oh my...this looks amazing! we have a pear tree that had a bad crop this year...but i canned so many last year..that i have some left. this will be a great way to use them up.

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  39. This looks amazing! I love making crisps in my cast iron skillet. It makes me feel so country :)mo

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  40. I like the little touch of the pumpkin seeds, it makes a big difference.

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  41. That crunch on top looks wonderful!

    Speaking of free pears, I'm gonna have to hit up my aunt for some. They have pear trees and she hasn't offered any. hmmm?

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  42. Oh my goodness this pear crisp looks delicious.

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  43. Oh my goodness this pear crisp looks delicious.

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