Of pastry, pies, and pumpkin

Christmas is coming! That means all baking should be accompanied by non-stop Christmas tunes. If traditional carols are your thing, then try http://www.christmascarolsradio.org/ or for cheesy Christmas pop, it’s got to be http://www.christmasfm.com/

84. Pan-fried balsamic pear salad with pancetta and gorgonzola

Home Cooking Made Easy p123

“When it is cold outside, having a substantial salad with a warm dressing really is just the ticket.” It’s not though, is it? A hearty bean cassoulet would hit the spot, or a succulent roast chicken with all the trimmings. But a pear salad? No. This is a great summer dish, and good for a special lunch once in a while.

45. Stilton, pear & poppy seed tartlets

Home Cooking Made Easy p171

I thought I was doing well with the ingredients for this recipe. I obviously had poppy seeds from when I made the bread rolls. Oh. I didn’t, did I? I made do with black sesame seeds. Ah well.

23. Red cabbage with pears & garlic

Home Cooking Made Easy p149

We’ve already noted Lorraine’s obsession with pears, and here is another recipe containing them. In fact, the description of this recipe contains a rather saucy passage about pear juice dribbling down Lorraine’s chin. That’s quite enough of that Lorraine, this isn’t Marks & Spencer.

7. Lamb, chickpea & pear tagine

Home Cooking Made Easy p112.

I think Lorraine has some sort of a pear obsession, because there are six recipes in this book featuring pears. Contrast that with only one apple recipe, and you get a woman whose fruit priorities are seriously skewed.