Best Pear Ice Cream Recipes

APPLE, PEAR AND CRANBERRY CRISP WITH TOFFEE PECANS AND CINNAMON ICE CREAM

Steps:

• For the crisp topping: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, granulated and brown sugars, oats, pecans and salt. Add the cubed cold butter and mix until crumbly.
• Chill until ready to use. Store leftover topping in the freezer.
• For the crisp filling: Peel the apples and pears, then dice into large pieces and put in a bowl. Toss in the orange and lemon zest and juice, granulated sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, cinnamon and ginger. Add the cranberry sauce and toss until thoroughly combined
• For the toffee pecans: Combine the pecans, granulated sugar, butter and salt in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until caramelized and golden, 5 to 10 minutes. Spread on a half-sheet pan and leave until cooled.
• For the cinnamon creme anglaise: Heat the cream, milk, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan until it boils. Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to steep for about 20 minutes. Remove and discard the cinnamon sticks.
• Reheat the cream mixture. Whisk together the egg yolks. Then slowly whisk the cream mixture into the egg yolks by the ladleful. Return the mixture to the pot and heat over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Strain the mixture and divide among six 2- to 4-ounce small ramekins.
• To assemble the crisp: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Grease six 6-ounce brulee dishes with butter. Spoon the crisp filling into the dishes and divide the crisp topping evenly to top them. Bake until the tops are golden and the edges are bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the depth of the dishes.
• Let cool until just warm, 20 to 30 minutes. Top with the toffee pecans and serve with the cinnamon creme anglaise.

BUTTERMILK CAKE WITH LEMON-AND THYME-GLAZED PEAR COMPOTE AND GREEK YOGURT ICE CREAM

Steps:

• For pear compote:
• Combine 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, lemon juice, 3/4 teaspoon lemon peel, and 3/4 teaspoon thyme in medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture boils. Remove saucepan from heat; cover. Let steep 10 minutes. Pour syrup through fine strainer set over bowl. Return syrup to saucepan. Add 3/4 teaspoon lemon peel and 3/4 teaspoon thyme and bring to simmer. Add pear cubes and simmer over medium heat until pears are tender but still hold shape, about 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pear to rimmed baking sheet. Boil syrup in saucepan until reduced to 1/3 cup, about 5 minutes. Transfer reduced syrup to blender. Add 1/3 cup pear pieces; puree until smooth. Transfer pear puree to medium bowl. Add remaining pear pieces to puree. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• For cake:
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 8-inch-diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter parchment. Whisk 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, 11/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in medium bowl to blend. Using electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup butter in large bowl until well blended. Add egg and egg yolk and beat until blended. Add flour mixture in 2 additions alternately with buttermilk in 1 addition. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, then fold in 2 tablespoons crème fra&ircirc;che. Transfer batter to prepared cake pan; smooth top.
• Bake cake until golden around edges and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool cake in pan on rack 15 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
• Invert cake onto tart pan bottom or flat platter. Peel off parchment paper. Butter same cake pan and line bottom with clean parchment paper. Spread pear compote evenly over parchment paper in pan. Carefully return cake to pan, placing bottom side down atop compote. Return to oven and bake until cake is golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Cool cake in pan 5 minutes. Invert cake onto platter; remove pan. Cool cake at least 20 minutes.
• Cut cake into wedges. Serve warm with Greek Yogurt Ice Cream alongside.

PEAR-CRANBERRY CRISP WITH CINNAMON ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss pears, cranberries, and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl. Let stand 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish.
• Mix flour, next 3 ingredients, and 1/4 cup sugar in medium bowl. Add butter; using fork, stir until moist clumps form. Sprinkle topping over fruit in dish.
• Bake crisp 45 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 375°F. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Serve warm with Cinnamon Ice Cream.

BLUE CHEESE-PEAR ICE CREAM

Steps:

• In a saucepan, combine the pears, wine, nectar, 2 tablespoons of sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the pears are tender and the liquid is reduced by 1/2. Puree in a food processor and transfer to a bowl to cool. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the cream to a gentle boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat.
• Beat the egg yolks in a medium bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup of the hot cream into the egg yolks. Whisking, gradually add the egg mixture to the hot cream. Return to medium-low heat and cook, whisking, until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean bowl. Add the blue cheese and salt, and whisk until fairly smooth. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing down against the surface to keep a skin from forming. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.
• Whisk together the pear and cheese mixture and pour into the bowl of an ice cream machine. Freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until ready to serve.
• To serve, scoop the ice cream into bowls, 2 scoops per person. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with chopped nuts. Place 2 phyllo cookies in the ice cream and serve.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.
• Place the phyllo on a work surface and cover with a damp kitchen towel. With a pastry brush, paint the top sheet with melted butter, and lightly sprinkle with nuts and sugar. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Fold the phyllo stack in 1/2 over itself. Cut the phyllo twice lengthwise and twice across to make rectangles.
• Bake until golden brown and just crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on the pan until ready to serve.

BARTLETT PEAR CRISP WITH CINNAMON TORTILLA CHIPS AND VANILLA ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Slice 2 Bartlett pears in half, brush with melted butter and place skin side down on the grill for 20 minutes. Make a crispy topping by combining 1/2 cup flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/3 cup rolled oats, add 6 tablespoons cold butter and cut all together with a fork or by hand. When pears are starting to get tender, sprinkle crispy topping on the pears for the last 10 minutes of grilling time. Meanwhile, brush fresh flour tortillas with melted butter and grill 2 minutes each side. Remove from grill, brush a little butter on 1 side and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. When cooled, cut tortillas in quarters to be served later. Remove pears from grill, placing each pear in a single serving bowl with a dollop of vanilla ice cream surrounded by cinnamon tortilla chips. Serve immediately.

ROASTED PEAR TARTE TATIN WITH BROWN SUGAR-BALSAMIC SWIRL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Position 1 rack in center and 1 rack in top third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Sprinkle sugar evenly over bottom of heavy 9-inch diameter cake pan with 2-inch-high sides.Scatter butter cubes over sugar, then drizzle with light corn syrup. Arrange pear halves, cut side up and narrow end pointing toward center, snugly in cake pan (pears may not lie flat, but will shrink during cooking and fit evenly).
• Place pan on center rack in oven. Bake pears until tender and dark brown in spots, about 2 3/4 hours.
• Meanwhile, line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold thawed puff pastry sheet on work surface. Using another 9-inch-diameter cake pan as guide, cut 9-inch round from pastry sheet. Place pastry round on prepared baking sheet. Place baking sheet on upper rack in oven and bake pastry round until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool pastry round completely.
• Using slotted spoon, carefully lift pears from syrup in cake pan and transfer to large plate to cool. do ahead Pears and pastry round can be made 4 hours ahead. Reserve cake pan with syrup. Let pears, pastry, and syrup stand at room temperature. Before serving, place pastry round, flat side up, on platter. Carefully arrange pears, cut side down and narrow end in center, atop pastry round. Place pan with syrup over medium-high heat. Boil until syrup turns dark amber color, whisking occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add pear nectar (mixture will bubble up). Whisk until caramel is smooth, then spoon over pears.
• What to drink:
• Since this is a special meal, splurge a little by pouring a dessert wine. With the pear tarte Tatin, we like the 2005 Dolce from Napa Valley (California, $85 for 375 ml). This Sauternes-style wine is rich and elegant with dried apricot, honeysuckle, and toasted almond flavors. Because this is a sweet, intensely flavored wine, each guest needs only a small glass.

CREAMY CARAMEL-PEAR ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Cook pears, 2 tablespoons white sugar, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt, and vanilla extract in a saucepan over medium heat until pears are soft, 6 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat; cool pear mixture for 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender. Puree pear mixture and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl.
• Whisk egg yolks and 1 cup white sugar in a bowl. Heat 2 1/2 cups cream and milk in a large saucepan over medium-low heat just until bubbles appear at the edge; do not boil. Remove cream and milk from heat and whisk egg yolk mixture into cream and milk by small amounts until all egg yolk mixture is incorporated. Return to medium heat, whisking constantly, until custard is thickened, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat and chill in refrigerator for 10 minutes. Stir strained pear mixture into custard. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and chill in refrigerator overnight.
• Combine corn syrup, brown sugar, unsalted butter, and 1/8 teaspoon sea salt in a heavy saucepan. Place over medium-low heat and stir until smooth; bring to a low boil. Stirring constantly, cook caramel until thickened and light golden brown, about 3 minutes; remove from heat, and let caramel cool for 5 minutes. Whisk 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cream into caramel. Transfer caramel to a bowl, cover, and chill overnight.
• Pour custard into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. When ice cream is softly frozen, lightly mix about 1 cup caramel into ice cream to make caramel swirls. Transfer ice cream to a bowl, cover, and freeze overnight.

PEAR-CARAMEL ICE CREAM SUNDAES

Steps:

• For Ice Cream:
• Melt butter in heavy 10-inch skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar and cook until sugar melts (mixture will be grainy for first 10 to 12 minutes) and turns deep amber, stirring occasionally and pressing on sugar lumps to break up, about 20 minutes. Add pears (caramel will bubble and harden). Increase heat to medium-high and boil until liquid thickens and pears are very tender, breaking up large pieces of caramel and stirring occasionally, about 14 minutes. Transfer mixture to blender.
• Beat yolks to blend in medium bowl. Bring cream to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk hot cream into yolks. Return cream mixture to same saucepan. Stir over low heat until custard thickens slightly and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 2 minutes; do not boil. Immediately add to pear mixture in blender. Add brandy if desired. Blend until smooth. Cover custard and refrigerate until well chilled.
• Process custard in ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Freeze ice cream until firm. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.)
• For Pears:
• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sugar and cook until sugar turns deep amber, stirring occasionally and breaking up sugar lumps, about 20 minutes. Add pears and sauté until tender but not mushy and caramel thickens slightly, about 9 minutes.
• Arrange 6 pear slices decoratively on each of 6 plates or in shallow bowls. Scoop ice cream atop pears. Drizzle with caramel syrup from skillet and serve.

PEAR ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Combine milk, cream, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat until small bubbles appear around the edge. Remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 30 minutes.
• In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, cook pears for 45 minutes, or until they make a thick sauce. Let cool a bit, then puree in a food processor or blender.
• Beat together egg yolks and sugar in a small bowl. Bring milk mixture back to a simmer, and whisk about 1 cup hot milk into egg mixture. Return to pan, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until thick enough to coat the spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Stir puree into ice-cream base. Chill, then stir in brandy, if desired. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in an airtight plastic container up to 2 weeks.

RED WINE POACHED PEAR FILLED WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM AND TOPPED WITH GRANOLA

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, add the wine, sugar, cloves, pears, cinnamon, vanilla and orange zest and bring to a simmer. Cut out a circle of parchment paper and fit this on top of the liquid to keep the pears submerged. Simmer the pears until fork-tender, flipping them once, about 40 minutes. Remove the pears from the wine with a slotted spoon and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Continue to reduce the wine mixture on high heat until it becomes syrupy, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain.
• Top each pear half with some ice cream, granola and a drizzle of the wine reduction. Finish your art with mint and devour it.

QUICK PEAR TARTS WITH ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on floured work surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Using 6-inch plate as aid, cut out 2 rounds. Repeat rolling and cutting with second pastry sheet, forming 4 rounds total. Place rounds on heavy large baking sheet, spacing apart. Using 1 pear half for each tart, fan out pear slices in center of each round. Brush tarts with melted butter; sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake until pears are tender and pastry is golden, about 22 minutes. Transfer tarts to plates. Top each with ice cream and drizzle with brandy.

PEAR AND AMARETTO ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Mix the pears, lemon juice and pear juice together in a large saucepan. Heat the ingredients slowly over medium heat until they boil. Stir as needed.
• Remove the pear mixture from the stove and pour it into a blender. Blend the pears until smooth. Put the pears in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until cold. Set aside.
• Combine the honey, egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk the ingredients until blended.
• Warm up 1 cup of heavy cream in a small saucepan until it simmers. Remove the cream from the heat and gradually stir it into the egg yolk and honey mixture.
• Put the batter in a large saucepan and carefully stir the mixture over low heat for about 6 minutes or until it thickens. Do not let the ingredients boil.
• Pour the ingredients into a bowl through a strainer. Stir in the second cup of heavy cream. Chill the batter in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Add the amaretto, and pear mixture to the cold batter. Stir until the ingredients are well-blended.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until frozen (according to the manufacturer's instructions). Transfer to plastic container and place in the freezer for 4 or 5 hours before serving.
• Serving tip: take it out of the freezer for 5-10 minutes before serving, or longer, so it comes to the right scooping temperature. Sprinkle cinnamon on each serving for a spicier flavor.

PEAR ICE CREAM WITH SPICED PEAR COMPOTE

Steps:

• For ice cream:
• Combine pears, pear nectar and lemon juice in heavy medium saucepan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Transfer to processor; puree until smooth. Chill until cold.
• Whisk yolks and sugar in medium bowl to blend. Bring 1 cup cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk hot cream into yolk mixture. Return to same saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into mixture; add bean. Stir over low heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 7 minutes (do not boil). Pour through strainer into bowl. Mix in 1 cup cream. Cool 15 minutes.
• Add corn syrup and 3 cups pear puree to custard and whisk until blended (reserve any remaining pear puree for another use). Chill custard until cold, at least 4 hour or overnight.
• Transfer custard to ice cream maker. Process according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to covered container and freeze. (Can be made 2 days ahead.)
• For compote:
• Combine wine, sugar and cloves in heavy large saucepan. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into saucepan; add bean. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to boil. Add pears; simmer until tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer pears to medium bowl. Boil liquid in saucepan until slightly thickened and syrupy, adding any juices from bowl of pears, about 12 minutes. Pour over pears. Chill until cold, at least 4 hours or overnight. Discard vanilla bean and cloves (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.)
• Scoop ice cream into goblets. Spoon pears and syrup over and serve.

PEAR-PECAN TART WITH MAPLE ICE CREAM

Steps:

• To make the ice cream, combine the milk, cream, maple syrup and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring just to a boil. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks in a mixing bowl. Whisking constantly and rapidly, add the milk mixture to the yolks. Pour the mixture back into the pan and place over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 15 minutes; do not let it come to a simmer. Pour into a bowl, let cool and refrigerate until cold. Stir in the vanilla. Pour into an ice-cream maker and freeze according to the directions.
• Meanwhile, to make the tart, place 1/2 cup of pecans, the flour and the salt in a food processor and pulse until the pecans are ground. Add the butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the egg and pulse just until dough begins to come together. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll the dough into a circle about 3/8-inch thick and fit it into a 10-inch tart pan. Line the pan with parchment paper, fill with pie weights or raw beans and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the paper and the weights and bake for 5 minutes more. Set aside.
• Peel, halve and core the pears. Arrange the pear halves in a circle over the crust, cut side down. Scatter the remaining pecans over and around the pears. Drizzle 1/4 cup of maple syrup over the top. Bake until the pears are soft but hold their shape, about 45 minutes, covering the top loosely with aluminum foil if the crust browns too much before the pears are done. Let cool.
• Stir together 1/4 cup of maple syrup and the Cognac. Brush the mixture over the pears. Cut into wedges and serve with a scoop of maple ice cream.

ROAST PEAR & SHERRY ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Peel, halve and core the pears, then put them in a gratin dish or roasting tin in which they can sit without too much surface area around them (otherwise the juices that come out of them will just burn off ). Sprinkle with the sugar and drizzle over 4 tbsp sherry and the melted butter. Bake for 30-40 mins; the pears should be completely tender and the juices around them slightly caramelised (check on them after 20 mins - if the pears are small it will take less time). Cut the pears up - still in the dish - and pour over the remaining sherry. Leave to cool completely, then purée (including all the juice) and push through a sieve. Cover and chill.
• To make the ice cream base, put the cream and milk in a heavy-based pan and add half the sugar. Slit the vanilla pod along its length and scrape the seeds out into the pan. Drop in the pod as well. Bring to just under the boil, stirring, then take the pan off the heat and leave to infuse. Remove the vanilla pod.
• Put the egg yolks in a bowl with the rest of the sugar and whisk with electric beaters until the mixture has increased in volume and falls in ribbons (this will take about 2 mins). Gradually stir about half the cream mixture into the eggs and sugar, then add this to the rest of the cream in the pan. Set the pan over a very low heat and cook, stirring all the time with a wooden spoon, for 8-10 mins, or until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. Be really careful not to let the mixture overheat or it'll curdle.
• Pour the custard into a bowl set in a sink of iced water (this stops it cooking immediately) and leave to cool, stirring a little every so often. Chill for 3 hrs. Stir the pear purée and the 2 tbsp sherry into the custard, then churn in an ice cream maker following the manufacturer's instructions. Spoon into a container, cover and store in the freezer. Alternatively, if you don't have an ice cream maker, put the custard and pear mixture into a freezer-proof bowl, cover and put it in the freezer. Beat the mixture every hour until it's frozen (about 4 hrs) to break down the crystals.

PEAR ICE CREAM SUNDAES

Steps:

• Place pear halves, flat side up, in individual dessert dishes. Top with a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle with chocolate syrup; sprinkle with almonds.

SUNNY'S FRIED APPLE AND PEAR ICE CREAM

Steps:

• For the ice cream: In a large pan on medium heat, add the butter, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, apples, pears and a tiny pinch of salt. Cook while stirring until the fruit is tender, but still has a bit of a bite, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove to a plate or bowl and place in the freezer or refrigerator until cold.
• In a large bowl, add the softened ice cream and chilled fruit and stir until combined. Place in an airtight container and return to the freezer until firm, 1 to 2 hours. Place a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer to chill as well.
• For the coating and frying: In a bowl, add the cereal, pecans and a pinch of salt and stir to combine. In another bowl, add the eggs and 2 tablespoons water and whisk. Refrigerate the egg wash until needed, returning it to the refrigerator when not in use.
• Remove the ice cream from the freezer. Using an ice cream scoop, make 1 ball of ice cream (if you use your hands to make it perfect, do it fast!) and quickly roll it in the cereal coating. Place it on the baking sheet in the freezer and repeat for the remaining balls. Freeze until firm, about 1 hour.
• Remove the egg wash from the fridge and, one by one, dunk and coat each ball in it. Then roll again in the cereal coating, returning each ball to the freezer immediately after rolling in the cereal coating. Freeze this time about 30 minutes.
• Repeat the egg wash and cereal coating again, freezing the final time a full 2 hours or overnight. (Perfect to prep the day before!)
• Fill a heavy pot or deep fryer about halfway with oil and bring to 375 degrees F. Drop a few ice cream balls in directly from the freezer and cook golden brown, about 1 minute. Timing depends on the batch and ball size, so watch the pot! Roll on a paper-towel-lined plate to quickly remove any excess oil. Serve immediately after frying.

POACHED SECKEL PEAR WITH POMEGRANATE, CABRALES CHEESE, AND SZECHUAN PEPPER ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Szechuan Pepper Ice Cream
• 1. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and peppercorns and cook over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a gentle boil. Remove the pan from the heat, cover, and allow to infuse for 20 minutes.
• 2. Strain the milk mixture and return it to the saucepan. Reheat until the mixture just begins to boil. Remove from the heat.
• 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and sugar vigorously until pale. Whisk about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into the yolks, then return this mixture to the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until it thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon and reaches 175°F (79°C) on an instant-read thermometer; do not let the mixture boil, or the egg yolks will curdle. Remove the pot from the heat. Pass the ice cream base through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Set the bowl in an ice bath and stir frequently until cold. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the ice cream base for at least 4 hours.
• 4. Process the base in an ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions (be careful not to overchurn the ice cream or it will become grainy). Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze until ready to serve.
• Poached Pears with Pomegranate
• 1. In a medium saucepan, bring the pomegranate juice and black pepper to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pears and reduce the heat to medium-low. Poach the pears in the simmering juice until tender, about 15 minutes. Cool completely at room temperature.
• 2. Transfer the pears, still in the liquid, to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Pomegranate Sauce
• Pour the poaching liquid in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Continue to boil the liquid until it has reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Pass the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and cool.
• Baked Almond Diamonds
• 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (191°C). Coat the bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy and well blended, about 2 minutes. Add the almond flour and mix until blended. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the flour and mix until blended. Scrape the almond mixture into the prepared pan, smoothing it into an even layer. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until golden brown. Place the pan on a wire rack and cool completely.
• 3. Using a 2-inch-long by 1-inch-wide diamond-shaped pastry cutter, cut out 8 diamonds of baked almond cream. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
• Assembly
• Cut each Poached Pear with Pomegranate in half crosswise and remove the cores from the bottom halves. Place each pear bottom standing up on a plate and top with a slice of Cabrales cheese. Replace the pear tops. Glaze the pears with some of the Pomegranate Sauce, letting some of the sauce drip onto the plates. Place a Baked Almond Diamond on each plate and top with a scoop of Szechuan Pepper Ice Cream.

PEAR AND AMARETTO ICE CREAM

Steps:

• Mix the pears, lemon juice and pear juice together in a large saucepan. Heat the ingredients slowly over medium heat until they boil. Stir as needed.
• Remove the pear mixture from the stove and pour it into a blender. Blend the pears until smooth. Put the pears in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or until cold. Set aside.
• Combine the honey, egg yolks and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk the ingredients until blended.
• Warm up 1 cup of heavy cream in a small saucepan until it simmers. Remove the cream from the heat and gradually stir it into the egg yolk and honey mixture.
• Put the batter in a large saucepan and carefully stir the mixture over low heat for about 6 minutes or until it thickens. Do not let the ingredients boil.
• Pour the ingredients into a bowl through a strainer. Stir in the second cup of heavy cream. Chill the batter in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Add the Amaretto, and pear mixture to the cold batter. Stir until the ingredients are well-blended.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and churn until frozen (according to the manufacturer's instructions). Transfer to plastic container and place in the freezer for 4 or 5 hours before serving.
• Serving tip: take it out of the freezer for 5-10 minutes before serving, or longer, so it comes to the right scooping temperature. Sprinkle cinnamon on each serving for a spicier flavor.

PEAR-CARAMEL ICE CREAM

Steps:

• 1. Dice the pears into 1/4-inch pieces. 2. Spread the sugar in a large, heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, carefully watching and stirring occasionally with a heatproof spatula until melted. 3. When the sugar is a deep amber, stir in the pears. The caramel will seize, that's ok. Continue cooking and stirring occasionally (again with a heat-proof spatula - caramel will burn heck out of you) for ten minutes. The sugar will have dissolved. 4. Remove from the ehhat and stir in 1/2 cup of the cream, then mix in the rest of the cream, salt, and lemon juice. 5. Cool to room temp, puree until smooth, press through a strainer. Chill according to your ice-cream maker manufacturer's instructions. [ed: be sure not to overchurn or you'll have buttery bits in there - not good]