Caramel Pear Pie - Week 37

Simple caramel sauce brings another dimension to an already delicious pear pie.
Years ago, we once had a pear tree in our yard that yielded a massive harvest one year. I didn't know what I could do with all of those pears. Someone recommended a pie, so I tried it and we loved it!

Unfortunately, I also remember that our local fly population loved the sticky pears that we couldn't reach in our tree. Our children had a swing set and slide combo that were off limits because of the sticky pear goo and flies that had taken over our backyard that fall. But those pears sure made great pies!

This year, I went to the store to buy pears to make my pie. They can easily be found during fall harvest season, and are the tastiest at that time.

With the addition of a caramel sauce and an oat crumb topping. I think you'll enjoy this pear pie too. 

Ingredients:
1 bottom pie crust
5 pears, peeled and sliced
½ cup butter
3 T. flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup water
½ t. cinnamon
1 t. salt
3 T. butter, melted
1/3 c. flour
1/3 c. oats
1/3 c. brown sugar
¼ t. cinnamon

Directions:
Place pears inside bottom of crust
Melt ½ cup butter in a saucepan and slowly mix the 3 tablespoons of flour in one T. at a time. Once the mixture is thickened, add in the the ½ c. sugar, ½ c. brown sugar, ½ t. cinnamon, water and salt. Melt the mixture and stir over the stove until its caramelized thickens into a sauce.

Pour caramel sauce over pears.

Mix melted butter, 1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup oats, 1/3 cup brown sugar and ¼ t. cinnamon in a small bowl.

Place the crumble mixture over the pear & caramel sauce covering it completely.

Bake for 60 minutes at 375 degrees.

Do you have any memories from a bountiful tree?

Twix Chocolate Pie - Week 28

"It's the only one with the cookie crunch", George Costanza

Cookie crunch, creamy caramel filling, and a smooth chocolate finish makes this decadent pie a treat. I made this pie as a special treat for my husband's 45th birthday.

This was the first time that I have truly tasted fresh homemade caramel. Its taste is hands down the best thing that I have ever ate; so I can guarantee that it will be worth the patience it takes to wait for the caramel to develop. I was skeptical that the ordinary white granulated sugar would make caramel, but it does. In my research, I was warned to make sure to not let it burn; so you will want to take extra care to watch it closely.

When you eat your first thin slender slice of this pie, you will agree that the caramel filling in this pie is truly remarkable.

Crust Ingredients:
1 cup flour
3 T. sugar
½ t. salt
½ cup butter, cubed
2 large egg yolks
1 T. cocoa powder

Caramel Filling:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 t. vanilla
¼ t. salt

Chocolate Ganache:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup sugar

Crust Directions:
Mix flour, sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add egg yolks, and toss until well mixed. Add cocoa powder and mix well. Press dough into a tart pan or springform pan going up sides some. Bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees. Cool on rack.



Caramel Filling Directions:
Combine sugar and water in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and boil without stirring until mixture is deep amber (10 minutes). Remove from heat; add cream. Add butter and stir over low heat until caramel is smooth. Add vanilla and salt. Pour warm caramel into crust. Completely cool (45 minutes).

Chocolate Ganache Directions:
Bring cream to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Slowly add cocoa and sugar. Whisk until smooth. Let  stand until slightly cooled, but still pourable, about 10 minutes. Pour evenly over caramel filling.

Refrigerate uncovered until chocolate is firm, about 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate.

This recipe takes a favorite candy bar and makes it a favorite pie. 

Can you imagine another favorite candy as a pie?

Enjoy this extra special pie!