A week in review

Sunday, October 30, 2011

As I wondered what to write about today, I drew a blank.  Although I had a great week, nothing seemed big enough to base a blog post on.  So instead, I decided to write a quick recap of the past seven days.  It was a week full of blessings:

n     We attended the wedding of my youngest daughter’s church choir leader, a beautiful small wedding at our church.
n     With my friend Trish, I went to an International Festival of Authors event on Monday night that featured Governor-General nominees reading from their books.
n     I took my oldest daughter to a university open house, the third that we’ve visited this fall.  It’s hard to believe that in a few months she’ll be committing to one of them.
n     I watched game 7 of the World Series with my husband.  Is there anything better than Game 7 (even if Game 6 was the one no one will ever forget)?
n     And, best of all, I’m writing again!  After spending most of this fall with no ideas and little motivation, I’m finally feeling inspired. 

I’m also blessed to have discovered another Pear Crisp recipe that I love.  Those of you with long memories will remember that last fall, not only did I publish an Apple Pear Cherry Crisp recipe, I actually called it The Ultimate Fall Dessert.  But when it comes to food, I never leave perfection unchallenged.  When I tried the new recipe, I knew I’d found another winner.  The crystallized ginger gives this dessert a gentle warmth that plays beautifully against the cool pears.  Although Bon Appetit calls this dessert a crumble, to me it’s a crisp all the way.

How was your week?

Pear Crumble with Crystallized Ginger

For topping:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2/3 cup old-fashioned oats (not instant)
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
dash of kosher salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

 For filling:
3 pounds firm but ripe pears, peeled, cored, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp minced crystallized ginger
1 1/2 Tbsp unbleached all purpose flour

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Butter a 13” by 9” glass baking dish (mine was a bit smaller and it worked fine). 

To make the topping, mix first five ingredients in a medium bowl.  Add butter and incorporate until moist clumps form.

For the filing, combine pear slices and lemon juice in a large bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and toss to blend. 

Transfer filling to prepared dish.  Sprinkle topping on top, and bake crumble until pears are tender and topping is golden brown and crisp, about 45 minutes.  Cool at least 20 minutes.  Serve warm or at room temperature.



42 comments:

Sue said...

Beth, You had a quite a week, much more eventful than mine:) I love fruit crisp~one of my favorite desserts. Yummy comfort food at its best!

Susan said...

Hi, Beth,

I totally know what you mean. I haven't been posting much over the last several weeks because we've been here, there, and everywhere. The first weekend in Oct, we flew to Coeur d'Alene for a wedding. We came home and hosted a dinner party the next weekend, then we went up to my mother-in-law's to celebrate her birthday last weekend. Thursday, we flew out to Dallas to attend my husband's aunt's funeral. We got home yesterday & I'm wondering where the entire month went!

I've missed almost every FFWD post and one of my Baked Sunday Morning posts, so I'm feeling out of it.

To top it off, some of the really good things we've made we've already blogged about, so no fodder for new posts there!

I love this crisp & will be sure to try it. It's nice to count our blessings and even nicer when we have friends who understand how crazy life gets sometimes!

Have another great week!

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Lovely week of blessings including the quaint wedding :)

I love Crumbles perhaps more than pies and this one sound very good!

Happy to hear you are feeling inspired again!

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

Thanks for sharing your week of blessings and that luscious dessert. Crumbles are better than cake.

grace said...

crystallized ginger sounds like a great and unique touch to a tasty pear crisp--excellent share!

Mary said...

What a great week, Beth. I can barely even grasp the fact that my children will be old enough to leave home someday in the future. We're still knee deep with diapers through grade school here!

Your crisp sounds delicious. I bet the ginger really did take it over the top. YUM!

Valerie Gamine said...

Beth, I must lead a boring life because I think that any one of those events is cause for excitement! :D

Please tell your oldest daughter to follow her instincts when it comes to picking a college. Some of them just 'feel' better than others. And best of luck to her on the decision. It's quite can exciting time!

The pear crumble looks perfect for fall. I love the idea of ginger and pear together!

Claudia said...

I love this on so many levels. Family, life-long commitment, a fall crisp and new creative flow. It couldn't have been a sweeter week!

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Oh, Beth, what a fun week! And to top it off, you've shared a fabulous crisp! The crystallized ginger sounds like a delicious addition...and I adore the oat topping...yum!

Anonymous said...

Ooh, a pear crumble sounds delicious right now. Yum!

Simply Life said...

sounds like you had quite the week -we just came back from a wedding ourselves!

Bonnie said...

It sound like an eventful week to me. The literary festival sounds wonderful. Our children grow up so fast. I have a 27 year old and it takes my breath away when I dwell on it. The pear crumble looks delicious. I adore anything with ginger. Wasn't the World Series the best. My daughter lives in St. Louis. They went to the parade today. Always enjoy reading your post.

Stina said...

I'm telling the Mr Betty Crocker of my house about this recipe. Yummy!!!!!

Wow you were busy this week. But at least you're now inspired to write again. That's awesome, Beth. :)

Ashlea Taylor said...

I absolutely love pears and they are in such abundance right now. Definitely want to try this. Sound like a wonderful week!

Carol said...

Sounds like a very busy but very good week. We are looking at colleges as well! I would have loved some crisp, too, the ginger with the pears is such a delicious combination!

Ruth said...

If I wrote about my week, I'd have trouble using only clean language! But I too am back writing again after a few weeks of feeling quite uninspired. So I sympathize with you there. As for crystallized ginger?? YUM!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad to hear that your writing mojo is back. I know that it's hard enough to create content when you're inspired and have the time - when you're going through a busy phase and writers' block has struck? Yipes.

What a wonderful week for you!

laurie said...

Sounds like a great week! And your crisp looks lovely!

Elaine said...

What a lovely week for you and congratulations on writing again! Your crisp looks so delicious and the ginger in it must give it that extra special flavor. Hope this week is also a good one for you!

Katerina said...

Full week I can say! This crisp looks divine Beth!

Barbara said...

I've never made a pear crisp, Beth. What a great idea and pears are super right now.
Pleased you are inspired to write again! It's never been a talent of mine so I am impressed with anyone who has a way with words!

Miriam said...

That recipe calls to me on a cold day like today. Happy Halloween! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

julie said...

It sounds like you had a wonderful week. That crisp looks celebration worthy as well! We have so many wonderful blessing in our lives. :)

Christina Lee said...

Sounds busy and lovely! Can this be made just as well with apples (checking out the other recipe now)!

lisa is cooking said...

I have to say, I never actually watch baseball, but I grew up in a family full of Cardinals fans. So, it was great to catch the end of game 7. This crisp sounds fantastic. Crystallized ginger with pears sounds delicious.

Monet said...

It does seem like your week was full of good things, Beth. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and this recipe, sweet friend! I hope you are having a Happy Halloween. Thank you for making mine a bit sweeter (now I just need to get some candy!) Much love from Austin.

Jeanne said...

I listened to game 7 on the radio, but other than that I didn't have much excitement in my week. I'm thrilled that inspiration has struck, and I can't wait to hear what you're working on next! This crisp looks great, I've got to make some kind of crisp before autumn is over.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Wow...You've had a busy week. I hope your daughter doesn't choose a school too far away.

That pear crisp looks divine!

shaz said...

Sounds like you've had a a good week all round. And glad you've found your inspiration again. Wow, your baby is about to go to university huh? Must be such a thrill.

And over here, it's crumble all the way :) This one looks ultra delicious.

Joanne said...

Well there may not have been one BIG thing, as you said, but it sounds like there were lots of lovely little things! Congrats on writing again, that must feel so refreshing!

This crisp looks delicious. I love your inclusion of crystallized ginger.

Anonymous said...

Ooo, pear crumble. I have a tree full of pears just calling out to be used. I know what to do now. Thanks for your reply ref: RSS - it probably is my browser. Is seem to be able to bet RSS via Google. Never mind I know where you are.

Anonymous said...

Can we ever have enough crumble recipes? I think not.
What a fun week! I'm glad you are back in the writing saddle again.

nancy at good food matters said...

so many good pear recipes, so little time! I love the crystallized ginger in this crisp. that's a great exercise when you've hit a blank wall---think back on the week's events, and write them down. always a surprise at the wealth of experience right there!

sally said...

I love the addition of crystallized ginger! This looks like a great dessert!

MTeacress said...

Hi Beth! I've tried commenting on your blog a time or two and it didn't work, but hopefully it will now that I 've made some adjustments to my computer.

I can always count on you to provide me with something unique and tasty. Thanks. :)

Anonymous said...

Crystallized ginger is highly underrated in baking. Can I just tell you how happy it made me to see that you used a Bon Appetit recipe from so long ago? I do that all the time.

Rita said...

You have been busy Beth, but sometimes we just kind of blank out. You sure came up with a recipe I have to try; love that name:The Ultimate Fall Dessert...and with crystallized ginger. Thank you for sharing. Wishing a good November.
Rita

Priyanka said...

Hi Beth,
You had a fun filled week. The dessert is awesome

MegSmith @ Cooking.In.College said...

Mmm pears and ginger were made for each other! This sounds great.

Becki's Whole Life said...

Hi Beth - thanks for visiting my blog today! It sounds like you had a busy week - and sometimes it's nice to just sit and write and think about everything that went on. Your Pear Crisp sounds wonderful. I have been getting the Bartlett Pears at Trader Joe's lately and putting them in salads. This crisp sounds great and I love the addition of the ginger - one of my favorite flavors:-). Have a great day!

Aarthi said...

I love this dish a lot..Thanks for the recipe dear..Totally loving it....Following your blog straight away..If you have time Check out my blog too..

Aarthi
http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/
I am having a Giveaway..
http://yummytummy-aarthi.blogspot.com/2011/10/3-reason-to-celebrate-3-cookbooks.html

Sara said...

Yum! I love the idea of using pears instead of apples in a crisp, especially with ginger...delicious! :-D

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