Thursday's Food Tip: Pick Pears!

Next time you want a healthy snack for yourself or your family, pick pears.

Well, CHOOSE pears, that is. You can let someone else pick them from the tree.



Pears are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and they contain no cholesterol, sodium or saturated fat.

There are over 3,000 varieties of pears grown throughout the world. Here are some popular varieties:

ANJOU PEAR

A yellow-green pear with a bland, not very sweet flavor. Better for cooking than for snacking.

RED PEAR

Pretty, red pear with a pale flesh. Should be peeled before cooking or eating.

SECKEL PEAR

Small, green to russet-colored pear with a fine-grained flesh. Spicy flavor. Perfect pear for cooking, or eaten, unpeeled, as a snack.

BOSC PEAR

Russet colored skin. Rich, sweet taste. Holds its shape when cooked, for a beautiful presentation.

BARTLETT PEAR

Large, golden pear, shaped like a bell. Very juicy flesh. Perfect for snacks, unpeeled, or cook Bartlett pears in pies or tarts or use them to make sauces and sorbets.


Find out more about pears, and get the recipe for a delicious pear stuffing at USA Pears.



Make a Heavenly Pear Crumble with Heavenly Jam Bar Mix from the Three Angels Gourmet Co.

HEAVENLY PEAR CRUMBLE

3 medium pears (Barlett, Seckel, or Anjou are good choices)

1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/3 c. water

1 stick butter

1 pkg. Heavenly Jam Bar Mix

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel and core pears. Chop them into bite-sized pieces and set them aside. Spray an 8"x8" baking pan with cooking spray, then line the bottom of the pan with the pear pieces. Pour the water into the pan with the pears, then sprinkle the pears with cinnamon and grated nutmeg.

Put 1 stick of butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Melt the butter in the microwave, then pour the jam bar mix into the melted butter and mix together well (this will make a crumbly mixture). Pour the crumbly mixture over the pears in the baking pan and pat down. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes (or until crumbly mixture is brown around the edges and pears are soft).

Serve the crumble topped with vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream, if desired.