Usually our family enjoys pears in late summer and fall, but my husband and I could not pass up the organic pear sale we discovered this week. Stocking up on several bags full of pears, we managed to fit them into the fridge with all our other items for the month.

We often purchase large quantities of food when it is at a desirable price. During strawberry season we amass a considerable amount of the red berries and freeze some, make jam, and enjoy as many as we can fresh! Our new strawberry patch will certainly add to that this year as well.

The first way I decided to use some of the pears was to make a crisp for Valentine’s Day. I have memorized a recipe that I think I found on the back of an organic sucanat package in high school, and modified it as I usually do.  

Pear Crisp Recipe

2-3 pears
½ cup oats
½ cup unbleached white flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup chopped walnuts
3 tsp cinnamon
½ cup melted butter (or Earth Balance)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel and cut pears and put in baking dish (I usually use a glass pie pan). Combine oats, flour sugar, walnuts and cinnamon in a bowl. Pour in the melted butter and mix everything well. Spoon mixture on top of the pears and place in oven for about 30 minutes, or until the pears are soft and the topping is slightly browned. We often enjoy the crisp with some local organic ice cream on top!