Baked Pears in Puff Pastry
The most wonderful time of the year is here. It’s the second week of December. Everyone’s putting up their Christmas trees. The holiday drinks are out. Christmas shopping is in high gear. But most importantly, the holiday feasting has begun!
how to shop for pears.
What to Look For:
Pears vary in colour depending on the variety. Choose pears that are firm with no soft spots or blemishes.
How to Store:
Pears are unique in that they are best when picked unripe and then allowed to ripen off the tree. Choose hard pears and leave on a counter to ripen. A pear ripens from inside out, so check for ripeness at the thinner stem end - the flesh should yield to gentle pressure. Once completely ripe, transfer pears to the refrigerator and use within two to three days.
Winter brings out my inner baker. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps it’s the drop in temperatures or maybe it’s the desire to snuggle while indulging in something warm. Either way, I’m not complaining. When I think of winter fruits, I instantly think of pears. It’s crunchy like an apple yet juicy and fuzzy like a peach. When baked or poached with a few spices such as cinnamon, they are pure perfection. During my recent trip to the grocery store, I came across a few ripe bosc pears and I instantly knew I wanted to bake with them.
After scrolling my phone endlessly for inspiration in the middle of the produce section, I came across a recipe for baked pears in puff pastry. Now, I may know how to make a Coq Au Vin but by no means am I a seasoned pastry chef. As a matter of fact, pastry is something I struggled with the most during culinary school. My hands can dice an onion with ease but ask me to delicately fold pastry dough and game over. To make me feel like a pro without the hassle of measuring ingredients and delicately folding pastry dough again and again... and again, Tenderflake came to the rescue. Off to the frozen section I went and there, glistening in its bright yellow packaging was Tenderflake's ready-to-use rolled puff pastry sheets - the answer to all my problems and my secret weapon when it comes to baking. Made with simple ingredients that are easy to use and taste great, Tenderflake's puff pastry sheets acted as the base to my bosc pears stuffed with brie and almonds.
baked pears in puff pastry with brie and almond filling
Photos Captured by: Ash Hobian