European Recipes : British Recipes :Golden Wardens

* Exported from MasterCook *

                               GOLDEN WARDENS

Recipe By     :
Serving Size : 6    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Fruits                           Desserts

   Amount Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
    6                    Pears
    1                    Lemon
                         Honey
    8       fl           White grape juice

   Warden is the old name for the small hard cooking pear that used to grow in
   many country gardens. The best way to cook them was slowly with honey and
   fruit juice to warm and round out their thin colour and flavour, but this
   recipe works well for dessert pears too.

   Choose a casserole or baking dish with just enough room to lay pears head
   to tail in single layer. Peel the pears thinly, leaving the stalks on,
   then immediately roll each one in a saucer containing the juice of the
   lemon. Put the pears into the dish. Spoon on scant 4 tablespoons honey
   and add any lemon juice remaining in the saucer. Bring the grape juice to
   simmering point and pour it over the pears. Cover the dish and bake at
   325-350 F (160-180 C) gas mark 3-4 until the fruit is beautifully tender.
   How long this will take varies enormously - 1 hour is enough for semi-ripe
   dessert pears; 3 hours or more may be needed for pears so hard that they
   seem to be carved from wood. Baste the pears frequently as they bake and
   turn them occasionally to encourage even cooking.

       When the pears are ready, transfer them to a serving dish, standing
   them upright. Boil the cooking liquid until it turns syrupy and is reduced
   by about half. Stir in an extra tablespoon or two of honey if you think a
   little more sweetness is desirable but avoid the temptation to make the
   juices too sweet; the appeal of the dish lies in its fruitiness. Spoon the
   syrupy glaze over the pears. Serve warm or cold.

   Source: Philippa Davenport in "Country Living" (British), May 1987. Typed
   for you by Karen Mintzias