FromTheFarm.com: Poached Pears and Honey Balsamic Strawberries
So here is another couple of recipes that I made using wonderful products from FromTheFarm.com who will be sponsoring a Foodie Blogroll Giveaway during March and April!
I received some lovely pears from EW Brandt & Sons. The Brandt family has been a part of Washington state agriculture since 1907. Located just south of Yakima, WA they grow, pack and ship premium pears, apples and stone fruit. This farming family strives to deliver the most flavorful and unique products that can be grown in their region. Through the years, they’ve added acreage, new packing facilities, and a nursery program that allows them to better coordinate their own tree development to diversify into various tree fruit varieties. And these are some beautiful and tasty pears. I really have never seen such lovely ones before – not a blemish on them, super smooth outer skin. Just gorgeous- and the taste? Like a pear should be – crisp and delicious!
The first thing I did when I got a case of pears from EW Brandt & Sons was start asking around for wine poached pear recipes – something I had always wanted to make. So I went on Twitter and asked around. My good friend Peter, from Kalofagas had two recipes to share with me, (hereand here) and so I kind of took the method of how he did his and added my own twist to it.
I had leftover mulling spices from the Gløgg I made for our Winter Solstice Cocktail Party and so I decided to use that in lieu of cloves, cinnamon sticks and star anise. I used Pumpkin Blossom Honey and Blackberry Honey Creme from Honey Ridge Farms to make the wine syrup.
Honey Ridge Farms is a really fantastic company. When I read the materials they sent me with the package I was really happy to read this statement: “We are a long time bee keeping family (5 generations) who believe that honey is nature’s best sweetener”. I would have to agree. I am a huge fan of honey, and maple syrup – if I could figure out how to bake with them, that is all I would ever use…sounds like another good project for me…Anyway their artisan honey is minimally processed, gently warmed and strained, but not filtered. This retains all the complex flavors this honey has to offer. The Pumpkin Blossom honey we got has a sweet and spicy robust flavor – and the color is beautiful.
I also received 3 Honey Cremes, and decided to use the Blackberry Creme in this recipe as it would compliment the berry notes in the Shiraz-Grenache wine I was using. Their honey cremes are blended with the finest fruits and spices and are never cooked – again retaining the natural goodness of the honey. It is delicious stuff and there is so much you could do with them – topping for ice cream, yogurt, on hot cereal, even spread on toast.
Anyway, I also decided to make a vanilla – maple cream to go with the pears – you can see the recipe after the cut.
We got another interesting product from Honey Ridge Farms – Balsamic Honey Vinegar. I know, I wondered what it was too when I saw the bottle. So I got to reading labels and literature to figure out what it was. It is a balsamic type vinegar made entirely from 100% honey! This makes it sulfite free and really does have the flavor of balsamic vinegar. You can use it in place of grape balsamic in salads, marinades and sauces. Plus, Honey Ridge Farms donates a percentage of their profits on this product to fund research for maintaining bee colony health – which is very important.
Strawberries are in season here in Florida right now. I am not a huge fan of them, but I do enjoy them when they are soaked in balsamic vinegar. If you have never tried this, it may sound weird, but I promise you that the flavors work together like magic! The vinegar brings out the sweetness of the berries. So I chopped up some strawberries and added 1/3 cup of Honey Balsamic over the top. I also mixed in about a TBS of the Clover Honey Creme (also from Honey Ridge). I let that all sit in the fridge for about an hour or two – you could do it over night, if you can wait that long! It was really delicious over vanilla ice cream! I am also looking forward to having some over yogurt.
Please check out this post and The Foodie Blogroll’s Contests and Giveaways Page to see how you can be eligible to win one of our awesome giveaways we have going on.
Wine Poached Pears with Vanilla Maple Cream
INGREDIENTS:
4 pears
1 bottle of red wine – shiraz or grenache works great
2 TBS of mulling spices
1 TBS Pumpkin Blossom Honey
2 TBS Blackberry Creme
2 c. whole milk
4 TBS pure maple syrup
3 TBS non-GMO cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
METHOD:
Peel the skins from and core the pears (from the bottom). In a large pot add bottle of wine and mulling spices. I would suggest using a cheesecloth. I didn’t and it was a mistake. Also add the honey and honey creme. Bring mixture to a slow boil. Add the pears upright, and bring liquid to a boil. Lower heat to lowest setting, place lid on pot and simmer for about 45 minutes or until pears are tender.
In the meanwhile, make the vanilla maple cream. Place milk in a medium saucepan and scald over medium high heat. In a small bowl mix together the cornstarch and salt. When milk is scalded add the dry ingredients to the milk and whisk for about 5-10 minutes to allow the mixture to thicken. Once mixture coats the back of a spoon, add the maple, vanilla and cinnamon, stir in and remove pot from the heat. Reserve.
Remove pears from the spiced wine and set aside. Turn heat up on wine and let boil. Reduce down until it has become a syrup.
To plate, place a pool of maple vanilla cream, place pear on top and drizzle it with wine syrup and more maple vanilla cream.
kat - February 19, 2009 at 1:05 pm
The pears look beautiful but I’m all about those strawberries
Patsyk - February 19, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Beautiful! I love that they are a family owned business. Nice products!
Alisa - Frugal Foodie - February 19, 2009 at 1:24 pm
I love tasting various types of honey. Those recipes all look beautiful!
Jen - February 19, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Your wine-poached pears look great. It’s one of my favorite winter desserts.
Shari - February 19, 2009 at 1:26 pm
I love the lighting on those pears in the first photo. The maple cream sounds delicious!
Maria - February 19, 2009 at 1:32 pm
That sounds divine! I often see recipes for poached pears and yet have never tried my hand at one. I should really try at our next dinner party as they make a beautiful dessert.
Those foodie gifts look amazing!
Heather - February 19, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Thank you for highlighting such a great product – the farms in Washington and Oregon have been hit pretty hard over the past year by inclement weather and changes to immigration laws.
You really can’t beat Pacific NW pomes – imagine how good they taste when they haven’t been shipped cross-country!
Judy - February 19, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Oh those pears!!! I need a box of those! I love the poaching in the mulled wine. Very creative!
Peter - February 19, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Jenn, a very resourceful dessert…a Leftover-ish dish if you will, using up what’s at hand.
Poached pears are one of the sexiest desserts..luv’em, luv’ya, thank you! 😉
nina - February 19, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Lovely recipes…all of them, Jenn!!!
Ps: BTW, my maiden name was Brandt
Superchef - February 19, 2009 at 3:15 pm
poached pears are such a lovely dessert, anytime!!
The Duo Dishes - February 19, 2009 at 3:35 pm
These Honey Ridge products are amazing. Honey balsamic, honey cream! Just imagine all the deliciousness that would ensue…
Sara - February 19, 2009 at 4:10 pm
These sure look good – I’m not a huge fan of pears raw, but I love them cooked!
elly - February 19, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Mmm. Simple foods really are the best, aren’t they? I LOVE pears.
Peter G - February 19, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Oh! Right up my alley Queen! A very sensual dessert, definitely!
toontz - February 19, 2009 at 10:46 pm
I like pears, but LOVE strawberries. Mmmm, I wish I had me some of those berries and ice cream.
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie - February 19, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Desserts like this are the best! I *love* those pears! And the strawberries with balsamic honey vinegar sound delicious. Great products!
Jan - February 20, 2009 at 4:00 am
Love those pears AND the strawberries! I need a bottle of that balsamic honey vinegar!!
Donald - February 20, 2009 at 6:08 am
I all into this Jenn. You know, I have never had a poached pear ever! And strawberries in balsamic?
I am piqued.
joan nova - February 20, 2009 at 8:56 am
Looks like you’re having a really good time with The Farm products. Lucky you!
Natashya - February 20, 2009 at 9:26 am
What great treats! I love balsamic especially – I will have to try it with strawberries.
Bellini Valli - February 20, 2009 at 9:46 am
I need to move to the States so I can be eligible for all these wonderful company giveaways Jenn:D Your pear dish looks so appetizing right now since it is breakfast time here in the Great White North:D
Aggie - February 20, 2009 at 9:50 am
I love berries in balsamic vinegar!! Your photos are stunning Jenn!!
CurryLeaf - February 20, 2009 at 10:44 am
Stunning pics and lovely dessert.I love poached pears and have tried orange juice poached ones.Love the colour of Blackberry honey creme.Its perfect with pears.
Soma - February 20, 2009 at 12:12 pm
What an “outstanding” shot & recipe. That honey cream is something i wish i could have now!
Toni - February 20, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Pears are in season, and it seems that they are making the rounds of the food blogging world. This looks absolutely fantastic! And I agree with you – honey is really the best sweetener.
Gavan aka The Healthy Irishman - February 20, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Your photos are fantastic. The pears look so tasty and the haven’t had balsamic honey vinegar before but it sounds really good. You always have great recipes. Thanks.
pam - February 20, 2009 at 11:40 pm
I am sooo wanting some of that honey creme – it sounds wonderful!
Maggie - February 22, 2009 at 10:39 am
What interesting products to highlight! I can just imagine how great the blackberry honey creme would be on some Greek yogurt.
Navita - February 22, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Hi Jenn,
Long time so stopped by to say Hi…have been madly busy with my in-laws visiting…shopping..touring etc.
Love ur blackberry honey creme…the bottles remind me of The Bee Movie..:p
Dharm - February 23, 2009 at 7:35 am
Love the pears and the strawberries! Everything looks so yummY!!