Pears and apples are so commonly available these days that they’ve lost a bit of their seasonal luster. We’re out to fix that with these fall fruits. Pears and apples are particularly luscious when at their peak of freshly picked ripeness. Autumn offers the best possibility of finding locally grown cultivars like tangy jonathan or rotund, rome beauty apples, or the king of pears, the deep-carmine comice. Venture out to farmer’s markets or orchards to be reminded of how special these tree fruits really are.
Flavorful Fall Fruits
Baked Apples with Sausage Stuffing
Throw off that down comforter and feast on these sage-scented baked apples for a cool morning breakfast. They command respect as part of a full-on spread, but they’re just grand all by themselves, or perhaps with a piece of lightly buttered, sourdough toast. If you’re a brunchy sort of person, pour yourself a wee glass of prosecco and tuck in!
Ginger Pear Upside-Down Cake
Fruit-topped upsidedown cakes have a retro hominess. This one turns the pineapple classic on its head, substituting pears, and then lacing both the cake and its gooey topping with a warm flourish of ginger. This is a wonderful dessert to make for company. Serve it with a nip of cognac, and let the conversation wander uninhibited.
Grilled Cheese and Pear Sandwich
Fruit and cheese make an elegant, continental finish to a meal. But when you combine pears with Fontina and an herb sauce, you have a creamy, dreamy, sweet and savory lunch sandwich. Any type of bread works, but give this a try with either raisin or rye for something even more special. True confessions: ever since Cheryl plated up portions of this sandwich after the photograph was taken, we have yearned for more.
Apple Crisp
To me, apple crisp is the dish for fall. It takes me back to my childhood, when my mother would search out tart Jonathan baking apples from nearby orchards each season to make it particularly special. Because almost everyone’s mother or grandmother made a version of this, nostalgia is part of the joy. Luckily, this simple, cast-iron-skillet-recipe allows you to enjoy the trip down memory lane without any trouble.
Story and Recipes by Cheryl Alters Jamison / Styling by Keith Recker / Photography by Tira Howard
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