~December Cooking With Washington Wines~

I am a bit late posting this recipe. Hey, the holidays and trying to manuever with a clipped wing has a way of slowing one down. This recipe is a family favorite and I can only take credit for part of it. That part being the addition of the Gewurztraminer sauce and the presentation of the pie. This yummy pear pie recipe comes from Davis Orchards located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon which is about 10 miles from the SE Washington state border.

Every fall and through the holidays this pie comes out of my oven a lot. It is a easy pie and a favorite of mine to serve for company. Use your favorite basic pie crust recipe (No graham cracker crust!) and if you want to make it less rustic looking and more "refined" use a tart pan instead. You can even make this pie into a crostada and use phyllo or puff pastry if you want. What is important is the filling.

Pear Custard Pie

Enough sliced pears to almost fill a 9" pie shell

Juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 cup butter or margarine

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

3 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/8 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. mace (Very important! Do not skip this tasty part of this recipe. Worth the time to search it out at your favorite spice counter.)

Peel and slice pears; sprinke with lemon juice. Cream together butter & sugar. Beat in flour, eggs, vanilla & salt.Pour over pears. Sprinkle lightly with mace.Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees F) 45 minutes or until filling is set and lightly brown. Cool, top with whipped cream (optional).Best if served same day as baked.

If you decide that you need some extra decadence to add to this wonderful pastry, try a Gewurztraminer reduction sauce. Also a good way to use up some of those white off-dry wines

Start with a bottle Gewurztraminer or a Late Harvest Gewurz will work perfectly. About a cup of sugar (or less depending on wine and taste). Place the wine and sugar in a saucepan. Mix well and bring to a watchful boil. Reduce to about a large cup of sauce. Let cool and drizzle over pastry.

There are several excellent Gewurztraminers in the Walla Walla Valley. Forgeron Cellars, Canoe Ridge and Three Rivers to name a few.

Treat yourself and guests to this wonderful recipe. Make it a New Year's resolution.