Pears & Cheese

While growing up my mother would make the best Thanksgiving meal. We had turkey and all the trimmings. Her "feather" rolls became famous, and it was only later in life that I learned the secret to her cooking was all the butter she would use in many of her recipes. Butter seemed to make everything taste better.

But one thing that always seemed odd to me was her appetizer of placing a lettuce leaf on a plate and then a half home-canned pear, topped with whipping cream and then grated cheddar cheese. This always seemed odd to me, but what a wonderful combination it was.

Well, a fews years ago my brother Jan sent us a Harry & David Christmas gift of pears and cheese. Boy was it good to cut up a piece of pear and pop it in your mouth with a piece of cheese. It brought back memories of mom's cooking and the "crazy" appetizer she would serve.

Well lately Sparky and I have been having this same combination of fresh pear and cheddar cheese for desert. If you haven't tried it I would suggest you expand your horizon. Bosc pears are probably the best, but any variety will do. I have also recently learned that to properly ripen a pear is to place it in a small brown paper bag for a couple days. When the stem end flesh gives way under gentle pressure it is ripe.

This little desert is great and the calories are better for you than ice cream or cookies. Enjoy!