2008-09-18 - Candied Chai Pears - 0014

“Candied” Chai Pears
September 23rd, 2008 5:21 pm by Kelly

Last week, I shared a recipe for Herbal Tofu with Apples and Pears, a yummy dish for dogs and people. This week, I decided to try out a slightly different version, sans tofu and with loads of caffeine-laden tea. The result? "Candied" Chai Pears. ("Candied" in scare quotes because they're candy-esque, not really "candied.")

"Candied" Chai Pears

Ingredients

5 cups water
5 tea bags, in a Chai tea flavor
10+ fresh, ripe pears
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Cloves
Brown sugar

Directions

1. Bring five cups of water to boil in a saucepan. Remove from heat.

2. Place your tea bags in the hot (but no longer boiling) water and let steep for approximately 30 minutes.

3. Peel, core and quarter your pears. Use at least 10, but if you've got extra room in your baking pan, use it! Fill to the brim with pears, especially if you've got oodles of fresh pears, like moi.

4. Remove the tea bags from the (now warm) water. Add the Chai tea to the pears.

5. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to taste.

6. Bake, uncovered, at 275 degrees for two hours (or 350 degrees for one hour). When the pears are sufficiently soft for your palate, open the oven door and allow the pears to cook until the tea has evaporated. If you'd like your pears with a little Chai tea, skip this step.

7. Enjoy warm - but don't let your furry friends have a taste, no matter how much they beg, whine and connive.