“Gift of the gods” is how Homer, (the Greek poet laureate, not Homer Simpson) refers to pears.  These golden beauties are actually one of the world’s oldest and most cherished fruits, because of their resourcefulness and extensive storage life.  There is actually evidence of pear usage since prehistoric times.  Pears were cultivated by Romans who stewed them with honey. Mmmm!

Pears are also a great source of fiber and Vitamin C, and will only cost you 100 of your daily allotted calories.  By themselves, they also contain no sodium, fat, or cholesterol.  But they are especially delicious combined with fattening friends such as butter, sugar, brown sugar, and all other things nice!  Try this delectable cobber:

Pear Cobbler Ingredients

• 9 ripe pears, thinly sliced (and peeled)
• ¼ cup orange juice
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon ginger

Topping

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup oats
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup cold butter, cubed
• Fresh mint and pear slices (if desired)

Instructions

1. Mix the pears with the orange juice and place in a greased 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
2. Combine the sugar, cinnamon, allspice & ginger and sprinkle over the pear mixture.
3. Combine flour, oats, brown sugar and baking powder in a large bowl.  Cut in butter until crumbly and sprinkle over pear mixture.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes until golden brown.
5. Serve warm and garnish with mint and pears if desired.

Yield:  12 Servings

Calories:  265 per serving

Go whip some of that up, I promise it will be worth it.  Hello, anything with brown sugar and butter has to be yummalicious.

Wanting to teach the family some spiritual stuff to accompany your golden pear dessert? Try these options:

Lesson Ideas

• Fruit of the spirit (love, joy, blah blah blah…) – Galatians 5:22
• The Tree of Life – 1 Nephi Chapter 8
• Adam & Eve (Forbidden Fruit) – Genesis 1:1-6; 8
• Pomona, goddess of fruit