Food of the Month

This month Apples for the Teacher, is highlighting a "Pearfectly" delicious fruit. This fruit is in season right now and the most popular in Ontario is the Bartlett. Have you guessed it yet?

That's right, it's the pear!

 

Pears are a great fruit to eat raw but also cook or bake nicely. If you don't like the skin, don't peel the pears until you are ready to eat or use. Here are some pear themed recipes I've rounded up that would be great to use to introduce students to trying pear if they haven't before.

Taken from: http://www.tallgrasskitchen.com/kid-snacks-pears-and-soft-cheese

 Try slicing a pear and serving it with cottage cheese for dipping. The cottage cheese or soft cheese can also be spread on a cracker and topped with a pear slice.

Taken from: http://www.delish.com/recipefinder/pear-honey-pecans-recipe-mslo0911

Halve a pear and core it.
Mix together chopped nuts, seeds, cereal or trail mix with honey.
Spoon the mixture into the hollowed out pear.

Taken from: http://www.ivillage.ca/food/recipes/pear-chips

Thinly slice the pears. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 2.5 or 3 hours at 200 degrees F. Feel free to season the pear slices with your favourite seasoning like cinnamon or nutmeg.

Taken from: http://www.recipe.com/pear-pinwheels/

 Using a whole wheat tortilla, sprinkle your favourite kind of cheese. Cover the cheese with pear slices. Roll up the tortilla and eat as is, or microwave until the cheese melts. Cut the rolled tortillas into slices to serve.

Pear Salsa
Recipe adapted from: Foodland Ontario

• 1/2 cup tomato, diced
• 1 Sweet Orange Pepper, diced
• 2 firm but ripe pears, cored and diced
• 2 tbsp Red Onion, minced (optional)
• 1 tbsp olive oil (approx)
• 2 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh basil (optional)
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

In bowl, combine tomato, orange pepper pears, basil or cilantro, red onion, oil, vinegar and seasoning. Serve with pita chips or on top of crusty bread for bruschetta.