Guest guest Posted November 14, 2009 Report Share Posted November 14, 2009 Pears Versatile, flavorful, fiber-rich pears aren’t just for snacking. By amy http://www.rodale. com/pear- recipes?cm_ mmc=DailyNewsNL- _-2009_11_ 12-_-Top5- _-NA http://www.rodale. com/print/ 2668 RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Apples may have the healthiest rep of any fruit—that whole "apple a day" thing—but the pear is no slacker either. A medium-size pear boasts an impressive 5 grams of fiber and is a good source of vitamin C. And like apples, pears are more versatile fruits than most people realize. Creamy, sweet, and mild, a ripe pear is a delight to eat out of hand, in a salad, or with cheese. Harder, less-ripe pears are better suited for cooking, poaching, baking, and other pear recipes. Growers pick pears once they've matured and their sugar levels have reached the correct point, but they may still be very firm and green at that point. If pears were allowed to ripen fully on the tree they would soften and disintegrate. Don't worry about buying slightly firm pears at the market, whether for pear recipes or general snacking; they'll ripen in a few days at home at room temperature. Popular varieties include: Anjou, which has yellow-green or light green skin and a juicy, less-grainy flesh. Bartlett, a very popular pear that ripens from light green to bright yellow (there’s also a Red Bartlett variety) and is great eaten out of hand or cooked. Bosc, with a thick, brown skin, a distinct neck, and crisper flesh, it’s great for cooking, baking, or eating fresh. Comice, which has a yellow-green skin that ripens to pinkish-brown, and creamy-white, smooth, juicy flesh; it’s viewed as the premier pear variety. It's particularly important to buy organic pears, since the chemically-grown version carries much higher levels of pesticides than many other types of produce, even after washing. On the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) "dirty dozen" list of the 12 most pesticide-contamina ted fruits and vegetables, pears are one of these top offenders. Peeling nonorganic pears reduces, but doesn’t completely eliminate, the danger of consuming these chemicals. Fortunately, since the fruit is in season, organic—and maybe even local—pears are available and at their most affordable right now. Never cooked with pears before? Make an easy, healthy dessert by washing and coring a pear, drizzling it with one tablespoon each of water and maple syrup, and sprinkling it with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Bake or microwave until tender. For more pear-based treats, read on for some pear recipes from the Rodale Recipe Finder. They're sure to convince you that pears are a fantastic addition to any breakfast, lunch, or dinner. On the raw side, use the same ingredients and place in your dehydrator for a few hours. Live Simply So That Others May Simply Live http://groups. / group/Yoga- With-Nancy/ http://groups. / group/SignSoFla/ http://groups. / group/SoFlaVegan s/ http://groups. / group/SoFlaSchoo ls/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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