Make a Pear Centerpiece or Pear Salad Or Pear Appetizer

fruits and veggiescooking
Written By Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

We have been working on some lovely ideas for pears for the fall and for the holidays. Thanks to Cindy Silver, MS, RD, from Lowes Foods, for her request for pear recipes and ideas.We believe we have a few good ones here and we had a lot of creating and photographing them for everyone to see.Pear CenterpieceDSC_837612 pears, preferably different colors (we used 3 different types: Comice, Bosc, Red Bartlett)1 cup dried cranberrieslarge clear decorative bowl or vasePlace half of cranberries on the bottom of the bowl or vase. Layer pears on top in a decorative pattern. Sprinkle cranberries in the last layer.  Keep chilled until ready for use. Use as a centerpiece for dinner or just family time when it is great to snack on fresh fruit. You will be surprised at how fast they disappear!Fall Pear SaladDSC_84008 cups mixed greens, washed and ready to serve2 sliced Red Bartlett pears1/4 cup sliced dried figs1/4 cup mixed dried fruit: golden raisins, blueberries, cranberries2 tablespoons toasted walnut piecesBalsamic vinegar to tastePlace the greens in a large bowl and top with sliced pears, sliced figs, dried fruit and walnut pieces. Serve with the vinegar on the side. Olive oil and black pepper are welcome, too.Fall Fruit Platter, Pear PlatterDSC_8394DSC_8390Here we have an arrangement of concord grapes and assorted pears. Keep this in mind for another table centerpiece, party dish or gift that you can give for the holidays!Healthy Fruit and Cheese PlatterDSC_83994 ounces lowfat, low-sodium farmer's cheese, sliced thin1 sliced Red Bartlett Pear (use lemon juice to keep it from turning brown)1 cup mixed dried fruit: golden raisins, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, dried sliced figsArrange all items on a platter. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. We like to serve these with fat-free, salt-free crackers.Dried Fruit Gift PlatterThis is a healthier alternative to cookies and easier, too!DSC_8386This is a fun platter to make, especially with our spiral dish! But you can use any dish and make a fun pattern with a selection of dried fruits.1/2 cup golden raisins1/2 cup dried blueberries1/2 cup dried cranberries1/2 cup halved dried figs (cutting them in half makes them much prettier)Enjoy!We have great holiday nutrition education handouts and resources here!Sophisticated Pear Recipe here

Print Friendly and PDF
Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

Previous

MyPlate 4-Step Plan for the Holidays
Next

Holiday Presentation Ideas