Ruby Pears Recipes

Steps:

• Combine the flour, salt,sugar and turmeric in a bowl.
• Add the butter and shortening and cut in until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Mix the vinegar and cold water and add, one tablespoon at a time, to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork until just combined. Wrap in plastic and chill 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 F, ideally with a baking stone.
• Use a melon baller to scoop out the pear seeds, leaving a small hole.
• With a paring knife, carefully notch out the stem.
• In a small dish mix the granola and butter. Place evenly into the cavity of each pear half and set aside.
• Melt the jam and honey together, set aside.
• Roll out ⅔ of the pastry on a floured surface to ¼" thick and divide into 4 pieces, each just large enough for a pear half.
• Flip the pear halves onto each pastry square and brush with jam mixture.
• Roll out the remaining pastry to ⅛"-¼" thick and cut into strips.
• Form strips into a lattice over each pear, pressing to seal at the bottom.
• Use a knife to trim around the pears, and form stems and leaves with the excess crust.
• Bake until pie crust is golden and juice is bubbling out from pears, about 20 minutes if your pear is very ripe, up to 40 with firm pears.

Steps:

• Combine the port and sugar in a saucepan with 2 cups water; heat until the sugar dissolves. Add vanilla beans.
• Peel and core pears. Pour on port mixture and simmer 15 to 40 minutes, until tender.
• Let pears cool in the liquid.
• Reduce the liquid to less than a cup. Serve individually with the liquid spooned over.