Hey you, here’s a joke:
If you had 5 oranges in one hand and 5 pears in the other hand, what would you have?
… Really big hands!! Haha?!
Even though that joke was cheesy as heck, and maybe even a bit groan-worthy, at least it’s a nice transition to the recipe that I worked on today and sort-of on topic. Bigger hands would definitely have come in “handy” today as I was out by the river, picking some pears.
Fall is the perfect time of the year to stock-up on crunchy tree fruits, and these organic pears really hit the spot.
Loaded with fibre, this particular fruit helps keep your blood cholesterol in check, and aids in satiety (1) (2) . A recent study conducted at North Dakota State University suggested a potential role for pears in Type-2 Diabetes management, which can be attributed to the polyphenol properties and the fibre content as aforementioned (3). The study examined the pulp of a Bartlett pear, which was found to inhibit the activity of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme, thereby reducing blood pressure (3).
Although more research is required to validate these findings, maybe it’s time for pears to steal the spotlight this fall.
Here’s a quick and simple (and of course, delicious!) recipe for some “pear fries” that can act as a wonderful dessert topper, oatmeal enhancer, or an on-the-go healthy snack. For my recipe, I indulged my sweet-tooth and topped my favourite frozen yogurt with these little sweet treats.
Crispy Fall Pear “Fries”
Ingredients:
1/2 cup oats, large
1 tablespoon Chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup sliced pears, cut into thick “fries”
Coconut oil, to coat pears
Instructions: Cut pears into thick “fries” and lightly coat with coconut oil. Combine oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice in large bowl. Add pear fries and allow mixture to cover. Spread fries on baking pan and sprinkle rest of oat-mixture on as well. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 – 25 minutes, or until crisp. Remove and cool. Add to frozen-yogurt, ice-cream, or breakfast oatmeal. For extra special occasions, lightly drizzle ice-wine over ice-cream and enjoy!
The Final Product:
(Shout-out: Special thanks to my dear friend, Adina, for the awesome new marble cutting board!)
References:
(1) EatRight Ontario. (n.d.). Retrieved November 4, 2015, from https://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Cooking-Food-Preparation/Fall-Fruits.aspx
(2) Devasagayam, T. P. A., Tilak, J. C., Boloor, K. K., Sane, K. S., Ghaskadbi, S. S., & Lele, R. D. (2004). Free radicals and antioxidants in human health: current status and future prospects. Japi, 52(794804), 4.
(3) Sarkar, D., Ankolekar, C., Pinto, M., & Shetty, K. (2015). Dietary functional benefits of Bartlett and Starkrimson pears for potential management of hyperglycemia, hypertension and ulcer bacteria Helicobacter pylori while supporting beneficial probiotic bacterial response. Food Research International, 69, 80-90.
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