Cranberry Maple Pear Pie

3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1 cup maple syrup
1 lb pears, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4" thick slices
4 1/2 tsp arrowroot dissolved in 2 tbls cold water
2 9-inch pie crusts

In a saucepan combine creanberries, syrup, and pears. Bring mixture to boil. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 3-4 minutes until cranberries op. Stire in cornstarch mixture and simmer, stirring, for one minute or untill thickened. Transfer to bowl and let cool

Spoon filling into pie shell, spreading evenly. Make lattice strips with second shell, or cover with second shell, cutting vents for steam.

Bake in upper third of preheated 425F oven until crust is golden and filling is bubbling.

Gorgonzola Pear Appetiser

Won ton cups*

4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 oz Gorgonzola
1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
Salt & pepper to taste

2 tbls butter
2-3 pears, cored and sliced
1 tbls fresh gingerroot, grated
2 oz serrano ham, speck, or prosciutto, cut into hairlike tendrils

Combe the cream cheese, Gorgonzola, thyme, salt and pepper in a bowl. Whip the cheeses and other ingredients until smooth and blended.

Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add the pears and the ginger, and cook until pears soften and color up, about 5 minutes.

When cool enough to handle, finely dice the pears.

In a small skillet, in very little butter, fry the ham hairs until crisp. Drain on paper towels.

Fill the bottom third of a won ton cup with the cheese mixture. Mound pears on top. Garnish with the fried ham hairs. Serve either chilled or at room temperature.

*To make won ton cups. Using a 2" round cookie cutter, cut won ton skins into circles. Carefully fit one won ton circle into each cavity of a mini-muffin tin. Using a shot glass may help get them started evenly.

Bake the cups at 375F for about five minutes, until they crisp up. Cool on wire racks.

Cups will keep two days longer than forever if stored in a zipper bag with the air squeezed out.

Yep that's right - this recipe is for either. That is the way I posted it and for that reason.

I love me some pears!

Fantastic sounding recipes mama & Brook!

New avatar is in honor of your yummy "Pear-Fest"! winks- k.

picked some pears yesterday - going for apples next!!