Pears in orange sauce with custard

i am not a procrastinator….more like a get it over and done with kind of person…….in-fact when people comment that i am very quick in the kitchen, i always think…..i don’t like to think of myself as someone who slaves in the kitchen….cooking or pottering around is a relaxing event for me….and i don’t think i would enjoy it as much if i spent eons of time….considering my span of attention is what it is (that of a flash and it will change!!) its a good thing that i don’t linger over anything…..but sometimes, its as if all the forces (including your enthusiasm) seem to work against you….while two weeks ago there was a flurry of activity in my kitchen and on my blog…its sort of gone back to its lazy pace again…. works been good, the heat’s been awful and i went without replenishing fruit and vegetables for the longest time since i began running a household!!

food events on blogosphere are something that i always fantasise i have enthusiastically taken part in….and finally fret that i have not been able to send in a single entry and make do with a Mooney look at all the round ups…. i was telling k that mostly my participation in a foodie blog event is going through the round up and bookmarking it for future use!!

but this was one i couldn’t miss….this singing chef, is hosting AFAM this month, and we’ve been striking such chords on chat, that i was in serious danger of getting my sorry behind flogged if i didn’t send in an entry…. the event which is fruit centred is the brainchild of Maheshwari of Beyond the Usual and this month it is pears.. … i had something on hand, but i felt it wasn’t befitting of the event she was hosting (i don’t know if what i came up with is….but well, its prettier at-least)….i think in the ‘nick of time’ is how i will think of this….albeit i discovered a dessert that can be put together pretty easily and is very versatile…that’s something that gains brownie points from me in a recipe……

i went through a lot of recipes on-line and finally did my own thing (as always!!)……..needless to say, i had to scrape the platter to serve up seconds!!

since the custard is yellow, i am sending this off to Barbara, she is a true representative of living life at its fullest….she’s hosting Livestrong with a taste of yellow in support of Livestrong day which is 13th of may….go over to show your support, and do post a recipe with yellow….

i guess i wont have the time to do something else for Monthly Mingle, Meeta’s fun event, this month guest hosted by Abby, the theme is Summer Fruit Sensations…..

pears with custard (serves 3)

1/2 litre milk ( i used toned)

4 heaped T vanilla flavoured custard powder (i used brown and polson)

3 T sugar

mix the custard powder in 4 T of cold milk to form a lump-less paste. boil the milk and dissolve the sugar in it.while stirring add the custard milk paste and stir for a few minutes continuously till cooked. cool and refrigerate till set. i put them in individual jelly setting moulds.

2 pears (i used the green USA ones, i think the harder chinese pears will be good too)

peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges

1/2 cup orange juice

4 T brown sugar

2-3 sticks of cinnamon

1 orange cut into 5-6 slices (with the peels)

1/2 cup water

a few sprigs of mint and few sticks of cinnamon for garnishing

in a heavy bottomed pan, combine all the above and simmer for about 20 mins or till the syrup is thick. cool and serve with the custard. to serve, unmould the custard onto a serving plate, place 1-2 slices of the orange and 4-5 wedges of the cooked pears. spoon a little syrup on the custard and fruit, garnish and serve. i loved cold custard with the warm fruit. i guess this will go well with vanilla icecream as well.

the rind of the orange lends a slight bitter flavour to the fruit. peel the orange and slice if you dont like it to be bitter. or add 1-2 tsp of grated orange peel for a lighter flavour. i guess a dollop of whipped cream would have been heavenly, but i didnt have the time to get this onto the plate!!