YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Putting pears into your dinner mix

    Biting into a sweet, juicy pear brings a burst of pure autumn. Yet eating the fruit out of hand is just one way to enjoy it. We've assembled recipes to help you incorporate the season's harvest into your dinners and desserts.

    Recipes:

    Savory

    Purslane, Meyer Lemon, and Pear Salad with Kaffir Lime Vinaigrette

    Pear and Duck Confit Salad

    Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Pears and Pear-Brandy Cream Sauce

    Fig Balsamic-Glazed Duck with Pearl Onion and Pear Hash

    Paired with Cheese

    Pears with Herbed Ricotta and Honey

    Pears Stuffed with Roquefort and Walnuts in Pastry

    Wine and Citrus-Poached Pears with Triple-Creme Cheese

    Pancetta Crisps with Goat Cheese and Pear

    Sweet

    Pear Croustade with Hazelnut-Brown Sugar Topping

    Pear and Almond Tart

    Pear Cake with Lemon-Honey Cream Cheese Frosting

    Pear, Chocolate, and Hazelnut Crostata

    Click here for many more recipes


    Tips:

    Peel First

    Peel pears before cooking them, as their skin grows tough when heated.

    Use Lemon

    If you're incorporating uncooked pears into a dish without an acidic ingredient, dip slices of the fruit in acidulated water (water mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar) to prevent discoloration.

    Brown Bag It

    Unlike many fruits, pears do ripen successfully off the tree. To ripen them at home, put hard fruit in a punctured paper bag and keep it at room temperature until the fruit is aromatic and gives slightly when pressed with your thumb.



    MORE FROM EPICURIOUS.COM:

    • Recipes & Menus
      Epicurious.com's portfolio of dishes for all seasons, cuisines and occasions

    • Recipe Slideshows
      Assorted galleries featuring pictures and recipes from Epicurious.com

    SUPPER CLUB PICK

    • Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club
      View Photos
      Childhood Favorites from the Shine Supper Club

      My after-school snack was a sacred ritual. I sat on the carpet in my parents' bedroom at a low table, the television turned to "I Dream of Jeannie," and ate a peanut butter and honey sandwich cut into neat squares. I wasn't fussy about crusts. I just loved the sticky pairing of creamy peanut butter with syrupy golden sweetness drizzled from a honey bear in diagonals across the soft white bread. Nothing else--save for maybe apples and peanut butter in a pinch--could have made for as sweet an