Delicious Pear Chips
"I had a little nut-tree, nothing would it bearBut a golden nutmeg and a silver pear;
"
Mother Goose
I didn't appreciate pears until after college. However, when I finally discovered their drippy goodness, I became a rabid fan.
We are entering pear season and now is the time to toss them in salads or mix them with apples in a pie. Mmmmmm.
Still, I can always use some new ideas. Fortunately, Martha Stewart's Living magazine suggested a simple way to turn pears into chips. PLUS, it looked super easy (and it was).
Here's all you need:
- Pears
- Cinnamon & Sugar AND/OR
- Maple syrup
Begin by preheating the oven to 225 degrees. Then slice the pears thinly (you don't even have to core the fruit). This is the time to bust out the mandolin or food processor, though a sharp knife would do the trick. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out the pears without overlapping. Sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar.Or if you'd rather, brush with maple syrup.Bake for 1 1/2 hours then flip the pears and bake until crisp (about another 1 1/2 hours). Yes -- that's 3 hours in the oven. But the oven really does all of the work for this deliciousness!You can put these on a Charcuterie platter, or serve with a tangy cheese spread, or, if you find you like them as much as I do, put them in a plastic baggie and carry them around as a personal snack.
In any case, you'll love 'em! Thank you for the tip, Ms. Stewart.