Browning the butter lightly before tossing with the apples and pears brings a slightly nutty flavour to the dish. Serve over vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt for a simple and delicious dessert. Royal Gala apples keep their shape when roasted; if you can't find them, choose ones that are similar, such as Northern Spy, Golden Delicious or Cortland.
After all the fussing that's part of a large festive meal such as Christmas dinner, it's a relief the next day to simply put a ham in the oven to serve with Curried Pears. Ham is as delicious hot as it is cold, and the big bonuses are the smoky leftovers for sandwiches and salads and, finally, the bone that enriches a bean soup.
Choose fruit that's easy to hold as you dip slices into this luscious mixture. Apples, pears, strawberries and pineapple are ideal. Of course, the Mini Almond Cakes are perfect for this. Even though the menu is hands only, small skewers or toothpicks will make dipping easier and neater. The chocolate will stay soft enough for dipping for up to an hour; if it begins to set, microwave it at high for 15 to 20 seconds.
Garlic breath is no problem for Jessica Lajner, who loves Caesar-style salad in her lunch once a week, along with a tortilla wrap stuffed with luncheon meat. Mom stays happy when Jessica rounds out her lunch with seedless grapes or a pear. To keep the tasty and nutritious salad fresh, pack the dressing on the side for kids to pour on at school. A portion of this salad is great to boost the day's vegetable intake.
Wassail is a hot mulled cider drink that's traditionally enjoyed on New Year's Eve. In this iced "royale" version, we've swapped out the cider in favour of sparkling wine and pears. Prep the punch in advance so you can relax and spend time with guests as soon as they arrive.
Great for an appetizer or light dinner, serve with a yummy salad
This chutney is excellent with the turkey, of course, but also with pork, chicken, grilled meat and cheese.
A look through past recipes revealed that we have never developed a nut-free fruitcake – so here it is. A jewel-like topping and variety of fruits ensures that no one will even notice that the nuts are missing.
