Poached Pears- Eat Your Heart Out This Halloween!

Call me sick, call me weird, you can even call me gross, but don't call me heartless... I have a heart, really, I do. It just happens to be on my plate right now. Yes, another disgusting dish for the #GreatHallowTweet , the fabulous Halloween Bloghop originated and hosted by my friend Renee of Flamingo Musings.


I've always wanted to try poached pears. It seemed like a fabulous way to create inexpensive elegance for guests, with minimal effort. When thinking of ideas for the #GreatHallowTweet, this recipe came to mind when I noticed that ones of the pairs I had resembled a heart shape. I adjusted the recipe to the ingredients I had on hand, resulting in a bloody delicious treat I must say!

Poached "Heart" Pears
adapted from joy of cooking

1 c Merlot wine
1/2 c Grenadine
1 c sugar
2 peeled long strips of fresh lemon peel
2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
1 Tbs red food coloring
1 cinnamon stick
6 cloves, whole
3 medium pears

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a 2 qt saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover, simmering for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the stems of the pears and peel, slightly slicing off both the top and bottom of pears. I rounded the top a bit, giving it more of a "heart" shape look.

Add the pears to the saucepan and simmer for about 20 minutes. Keep turning the pears in the pan to distribute the flavor and color evenly, until they have reached a rich, deep, red. Remove pears gently from saucepan and let cool.

Remove the remaining cloves, lemon peel, and cinnamon stick. Let the remaining sauce simmer in saucepan until reduced by about 1/3rd (5-10 minutes), watching carefully so as not to burn.

Arrange cooled pears on a serving plate and "splatter" with "bloody" sauce. Serves 3.

Cobweb Meringues and the #GreatHallowTweet Halloween BlogHop

I need a maid. Try as I might, I can't seem to keep up. Everywhere I look in this house, cobwebs seem to be invading every little nook and cranny.


It seems like, just when you get the whole house all spiffed up for the fall festivities, the invasion begins. Subtle at first- a wispy flurry or two- a phenomenon of epic proportions that flocks to my home in herds...


Heee heeee.... herds of edible Cobweb Meringues that is. My fabulous friend Renee over at Flamingo Musings is the creator and Ghostess with the Mostest in charge of the #GreatHallowTweet Bloghop. Just click on any of the links in my right sidebar area that says Halloween Bloghop, and you will be able to hop on over to all of the ghoulishly delicious 18 participating blogs (link visible only if viewing my direct blog link here)!



My little cobwebs are a fabulous treat to make with your little goblins. They don't require much- just 3 egg whites beaten (in a grease free metal bowl) with 1/2 a cup of granulated sugar until stiff.


Fill a medium size pastry bag with the finished meringue, and then snip off the very tip of the bag. Pipe a small circle, followed by a sloppy scalloped circular pattern, and then another larger, scalloped circular pattern, trying to match up the points on each. Then, from the inner circle to just beyond the outer point, make a line. No need to be perfect... remember, our little goblins are never perfect, just ridiculously cute ;) Bake at 250F on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 40 minutes until dry and delicate. Remember, these are freakishly diet friendly, too!