pears Archives | The Vanilla Bean Blog

Apple Pear Cranberry Crisp with White Wine

Sarah Kieffer — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:26:41 +0000

I made the most delicious apple cranberry skillet crisp in this Le Creuset braiser, which has become one of my favorite kitchen items. I use it for everything – both dinner and dessert, sweet and savory. This recipe is based one from my new book, a crisp with cherries and rhubarb, but I’ve replaced the summer fruits with winter-y ones instead. Also, some friends have been posting recipes from my book, The Vanilla Bean Baking Book! Check out: Orange Cranberry Poundcake on Apt. 2B Baking Co. Chocolate Chip Cookies on Eat This Poem Mint Chocolate Cake on Appeasing a Food Geek Pumpkin Chocolate Cake with Meringue on Turntable Kitchen Sweet Potato Scones on A Thought For Food Pumpkin Olive Oil Bread on Simple Bites Apple Pear Cranberry Crisp with White Wine Recipe Makes 6 to 8 servings Note that the weight of apples/pears needed is the weight after being peeled, sliced, and cored. Cranberries add a very tart note here, so if you are looking for something sweeter you can omit them, and make up the difference in apples and pears. This apple pear cranberry crisp bakes fine in a 9 x 13 inch pan; I’ve used the Le Creuset […]

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french toast with bittersweet chocolate and pears

Sarah Kieffer — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 21:35:27 +0000

‘I am not a chef and have never been. I am a home cook who writes about food. Not even a passionate cook (whatever one of those is), just a quietly enthusiastic and slightly greedy one. But, I like to think, a thoughtful one. Someone who cares about what they feed themselves and others, where the ingredients come from, when and why they are at their best, and how to use them to give everyone, including the cook, the most pleasure… The art of crafting something by hand – a sandwich even- for others to enjoy is something I can always find time for. Making a dish over and over again till it is how you want it, whether a loaf of bread or a pasta supper for friends, gives me a great deal of pleasure…[i]f we follow a recipe word for word we don’t really learn anything, we just end up with a finished dish. Fine, if that’s all you want. Does it really matter how you get somewhere? I don’t think it does. Short cuts are fine, rule breaking is fine. What matters is that the food we end up with is lick-the-plate delicious. Let us never forget […]

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whole wheat pancakes, with or without pears

Sarah Kieffer — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:31:00 +0000

This week we took down the crib, the dark wood nest my parents bought us a month before our oldest was born. It was an exciting and nerve-wracking present to receive, taking center stage in the smallest room upstairs. There we found a safe spot for our two littles, a place to rest in the night. But now all four of us are warm and cozy in beds, sleeping proudly, like big boys and girls. Even so, I find myself trying to clutch at the time, not wanting to let go of tiny hands and feet, of squeaky voices. But each new day comes regardless; I wake, tossing off the covers, moving forward anyway. This week we said good-bye to Aunt Ginger, so suddenly. She was salt-of-the-earth, quirky and kind, unafraid to give what she had. Now she is still, resting, in some safe spot of her own. I find myself clutching again, wanting to gather the time to keep it, or stop it, but peace only comes when I open my hands and just.let.go. Each night I find my bed and curl up next to my Love, holding on tightly in the dark. We are surrounded by shadows, but […]

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puffed pear pancake with vanilla bean

Sarah Kieffer — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Growing up, big breakfasts were a weekend affair. During the week, it was every man for himself; my morning meal usually consisting of a heaping bowl of cereal overflowing with milk. Saturdays, though, would get a little fancy. Mom would whisk up some pancake mix, and we would slather those warm golden circles with plenty of syrup; all the cares of the week disappearing into that river and a side of bacon. Saturdays still hold their sophisticated edge around here. During the week the kids beg for cocoa wheats and bagels, but weekends we take our time with things: breakfast is a family affair, a process we enjoy from start to finish. Puffed pear pancake is one of our favorites, and we rejoice when the piping hot skillet is pulled from the oven, displaying an elevated pancake of glory. Pears, vanilla bean, a touch of maple syrup; our cares fall away at first bite. Puffed Pear Pancake adapted from Real Simple Magazine If you do not have vanilla bean sugar, you can substitute plain white sugar and 1/2 vanilla bean. You can also omit the vanilla bean and use 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon. I’ve occasionally added other fruit in with the […]

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salted caramel sticky buns with pear and crème fraîche

Sarah Kieffer — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:21:00 +0000

Sometimes inspiration hits slowly. There I was, with a box of puff pastry in my freezer. I had a friend coming over the next morning, so I pulled it out and stuck it in my fridge, racking my brain to come up with something easy to make for breakfast. I had ripe pears in the fruit bowl, and wanted to include them. I remembered my crème fraîche in the fridge, and thought that could be lovely. I fell asleep that night, dreaming of something to make it just right. Morning arrived, and with it thoughts of salted caramel sauce. I recalled a recipe for sticky buns made from puff pastry – and I decided on a sticky caramelly-sugar topping with a little extra salt for these breakfast beauties. We were lucky- they were delicious. Not too sweet, with tender warm pears and tangy crème fraîche, sweetened with a bit of vanilla bean sugar and topped off with that salty caramel. And the puff pastry brought everything together; so flaky and light. It was a perfect Fall treat, and something I’ll be including in my holiday baking this year. salted caramel sticky buns with pear and crème fraîche inspired by the […]

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