Sand Pear Pie ~ World of Warcraft

I've made a wonderful discovery, Night Elf. On the uncorrupted part of the island grows a remarkable fruit called the sand pear. They're found near the bottoms of the trees.

I've been preparing pies from them, but if I'm not careful, the elekk will start to wander over and steal my fruit. I've taken to gathering enough to share with the animals, but my stores are gone and the craving for pie has returned. Would you be willing to help gather the fruit I need for another batch of pies? I promise I'll share! -Aonar at Kessel's Crossing



You will need:

CRUST:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening
2 tablespoons cold water


FILLING:
1/2 c packed brown sugar
4 tbs flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp salt
1 dash ground nutmeg
6 c thinly sliced peeled pears (2 cans pear halves)
1 tbs lemon juice


TOPPING:
2/3 c all-purpose flour
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1/3 c cold butter or margarine


Crust:
In a bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. 
Sprinkle with water; toss until mixture is moist enough to shape into a ball. 
On a floured surface, roll out pastry to fit a 9-in. pie pan. Flute edges. 
I've made pie crust before, here is a link to directions.

Filling:
Combine filling ingredients; spoon into the crust. 

Bake at 400 degrees F for 45 - 60 minutes. 

If you are using canned pears you can skip the baking part of this step.

Topping:
For topping, combine flour and brown sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. 
Sprinkle over filling. 

Bake 45 minutes longer until top is brown. 
Wrap foil around edges if you feel the edges are going to burn.

Yum!

Steamed Pandarian Pear

Here are a few ideas I have for new cooking recipes in the new expansion - Mists of Pandaria!

You will need:

2 Asian pears (or Bartlett)

4 teaspoons honey

Raisins

Lemon juice to brush on the pears to prevent discoloration (optional)

1 1/2 C water for the steamer.

Wash the pears and pat dry with paper towels.

Cut the top off the pears and set aside (these will become the lid). 

 Remove the core.

 If desired, cut off a small slice at the bottom so that the pear will stand straight during steaming.

Spoon 2 teaspoons honey into each pear.

 Add raisins.

 Place the top back on the pear. Brush the lemon juice over the skin of the pear if using.

Set up a steamer, or place a rack for steaming inside a deep pot.
Add 1 1/2 C water. Don't let the water touch the fruit.
Put pot on medium heat for 30 minutes or until tender.
Check with a fork.

(Don't have a steamer? How about the quote,"Necessity is the mother of all inventions." - Plato)

Here is my invention:

I used a pot and a trivet, (the metal rack you place a hot pan on.)

Place the pears on a plate and steam, covered, for 30 minutes, or until the pears are tender.
Don't check the pears until after the 30 minutes are up. You don't want to let the steam out.

Serve warm. Yum!