Divine Pear and Cranberry Pie

My husband doesn’t like pears, however, not even he can resist the aroma and flavors of this pie. Make this pie just before your guests arrive and your house will smell divine. Did I mention how pretty it is to look at?

Serves 6-8.

What you need:

• 2 unbaked 9-inch piecrusts, pierced with a fork
• 6 half-ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons whole-wheat pastry flour
• Pinch of salt
• 2-3 tablespoons skim milk

Next:

1. Gently toss pears with fresh lemon juice, zest and cranberries.
2. Mix together sugar, flour and salt. Combine with pear and berry mixture.
3. Layer pear and berry mixture evenly onto first piecrust.
4. Place second piecrust on top, seal edges and cut small vents along the top with a knife.
5. Gently brush top piecrust with milk.
6. Bake in preheated 375-degree oven for 45-60 minutes.
7. Let pie cool for 1 hour before slicing.
8. Serve with vanilla ice cream



For a simple piecrust:

Simple Piecrust

Yield: one complete (top and bottom) piecrust

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, very cold
• 6-8 tablespoons ice water

Next:

1. In a food processor with a steel blade, combine flour, sugar and salt.
2. Cut chilled butter into chilled flour mixture. Pulse 10 times.
3. Add water slowly and pulse until dough comes together.
4. Carefully remove dough ball from processor bowl, wrap loosely in wax paper (handle dough as little as possible to help dough maintain chilled temperature) and chill in the freezer for 10-15 minutes or in the refrigerator for up to five days.
5. Generously flour your baking surface and roll out chilled pie dough.
6. Make two crusts. One crust will cover the bottom of your pie plate and the second larger crust (with enough edge to fold over) will be the top crust of your pie.
7. After assembling the crust around your fillings, cut four small slits for ventilation.