I have to say, I'm not the biggest fan of CHOW.com. They do have a few good recipes I have taken to heart though, and I enjoy reading Table Manners (probably a result from those manners classes and cotillion courses mom put me through; thanks mom, I really do appreciate it now that I'm older) so it has its plusses. I do love some of the recipes they make though, they have a simple decadence to them. A sort of Napa Valley... je ne sais quoi.But this one really does beat all.
This recipe for vanilla poached pears was a real winner with me, Rob, and everyone whom I have served it. Very simple and easy. I always have lemons and stray vanilla beans laying around (How bourgeois does that sound?) so it's a simple dessert to bang out for company or for the hell of it.
Plus, you can always save and dry out the vanilla beans afterwards and place them in a small container of sugar, then grind it in the food processor for vanilla sugar. Thank Shuna - of the great Eggbeater blog - for the advice, which I got when I attended her egg whites class. Go here for more vanilla bean advice, or see some of her artful writing as she guest blogs at Simply Recipes about how to make a perfect pavlova as she taught me.
However, if vanilla sugar isn't your thing, pop them in some vodka, and let it sit a while in a dry, temperate place. It's a perfect way to party with the coming heat.
Take this recipe into a new direction by creating a sorbet! Go see!
Oooooh I LOVE poaching fruit with vanilla pods. Delish!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so simple yet so delicious. I haven't had a pear in so long, really makes me want one.
ReplyDeletePears in the most simplistic way, how they were meant to be. I have some vanilla beans hanging around and I will definitely be making these, and the vanilla sugar and the vanilla vodka as well, just the thing for summer indulgence!
ReplyDeleteI love poached pears, especially sliced on a pile of pancakes. And how cool you got to take a class with Shuna. I wish she'd come to NYC and teach some classes.
ReplyDeletePoached pears in vanilla syrup. Served with homemade icecream. YUM
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great! Were your pears super ripe? I can never find decent ones, but I hear that poaching can really liven up some mediocre fruits.
ReplyDeleteG--
ReplyDeletethanks for the links! poached pears are lovely indeed. and if you have an ice machine, puree tham with some of your poaching liquid and voila! gorgeous pear sorbet!