The Cook Awakening

Archive for the ‘Just for Fun!’ Category


Poached Pears

May 7, 2012
Posted in: Just for Fun!, Recipes, The Simple Kitchen

This was my youngest’s idea. It’s not really the kind of dessert I gravitate to, sweeter than is good for my body. There’s not much about it that’s in season. But he was reading my newest cookbook, Paleo Comfort Foods, and how could I say no? My seven year old boy was reading a cookbook! And wanted to make something. And, it’s GAPS/SCD compliant, so at least HE could have it guilt free!

Getting ready.

So, here’s the recipe we made, somewhat adapted from the Mayfield’s version:

Poached Pears

Ingredients:
5 bosc pears
1 quart pure pomegranate juice
2 oranges
a few sticks of cinnamon
2 inches fresh ginger, sliced and crushed slightly with the flat of a knife

Directions:
Core and peel the pears. The Mayfields recommend using a melon baller, digging in from the bottom of the pears until the seeds were all gone, and it worked great.

Juice the oranges.

Make sure the oldest serenades appropriately. (It really makes it taste better.)

Place the pears in a pan with all the other ingredients, and simmer for a half an hour, until soft but not mushy.

Remove the cooked pears to a serving dish. Restrain the youngest from eating immediately.

Replace the pot on the stove and bring the juice and spices to a boil. Allow to reduce by about 3/4, until syrupy. Pour over the pears, straining out the ginger and cinnamon.

Eat.

Yes, I had one. It was fresh and spicy and sweet and sour and amazing. All the more so because my youngest (mostly) made it.

And, it would have been better in the fall when pears were actually in season – but he was reading the cookbook in May. I’ll take what I can get.

Pomegranate Pear Pork

November 5, 2011
Posted in: Just for Fun!, Recipes, The Simple Kitchen

We were going to have roasted pork tenderloin. Really, we were.

Problem is, it was still partially frozen at 6 pm. You can’t really roast frozen meat – just doesn’t come out right.

So…. I sliced it up and found a few things lying around that sounded good.

Pork tenderloin, fresh sage, pomegranate juice and pear butter
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Comfort Food

October 21, 2011
Posted in: Integrating Lifestyle Changes, Just for Fun!, Living with Health Challenges, Recipes

Just a quickie – seems to be what I have time for these days.

I designed the following recipe for a client who needs to eat a grain-free diet to support her in healing from some severe gastrointestinal difficulties. She’s missing her comfort foods, in particular a rice casserole dish. I tested it out on some friends, and there were no leftovers ;)

Let me know if you try it!

In My Own Backyard

June 4, 2011
Posted in: Just for Fun!, Seasonal Change

Recipe: Edible Face Scrub

Amazing magic today – we’ve had a swarm of bees in our backyard pear tree for a week. Thought it was a hive that we’d never noticed (clueless about bees here, except knowing they are vital to the health of the earth).

A visiting friend explained the swarming behavior this morning. She explained that when a suitable hive spot was found the swarm would take off with the queen all at once, and abandon the tree. What we thought was a hive, a mass about 10 inches across and 18 inches from top to bottom, was actually a cluster of bees. Holy moly! That’s a lot of bees.

Here's what they left behind!

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