You may have noticed that I have a thing for measuring cups and spoons.
For me, when it comes to these culinary necessities, more is never enough.
Mark, bless his heart, long ago learned to tolerate multiple sets of measurers, and now feeds my passion with beautiful new implements. This year, for Christmas, he gifted me a set each of cups and spoons. I can’t decide which is more beautiful.
For today’s post, I used my new sets and also pulled out some of my other favorites to make a dessert that instantly became a favorite too.
I got this recipe for Pear Custard Pie from my friend Inger, who writes the blog Art of Natural Living; I have mentioned her here before.
While she got the recipe from someone named “Martha,” I am giving Inger full credit.
She always inspires me to take a look at recipes and make them, possibly, just a bit healthier.
This “pie“ is much less a pie than it is custard. With fruit. It has no real crust, but contains just enough flour to give a crust-like feel to the bottom.
I must admit to making a couple of small changes to the original recipe. One of which went in the opposite direction of “just a bit healthier.” Oh well!
Inger, a much better person than I, might have replaced the whole milk called for with 2% or 1% milk. I had about 1/4 cup of cream left over from Christmas, so I mixed that with some whole milk.
One other change I made was using a combination of vanilla and almond extracts. Finally, Inger did not peel her pears; I peeled mine.
This is a very easy and delicious recipe dish. The most difficult part was overlapping the pears in the pie plate… they tend to slip off one another. If you need a very flavorful, simple, and reasonably healthy dessert, look no further!
~ David
Pear Custard Pie
3 pears
1/4 cup melted unsalted butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 large eggs
1/4 cream
1/2 cup whole milk
pinch salt
1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for dusting
Preheat over to 350°F.
In a blender, process remaining ingredients except powdered sugar, until smooth. (This can be made using whole, 2% or 1% milk, or a combination of cream and milk, as I have done.
Pour the batter gently over the pears – if the batter goes on too quickly, it will “derange“ the spiral of pears. Bake until golden and firm to touch, about 45 minutes. Allow to cool, then dust with powdered sugar.
Run a knife around the edges to loosen prior to slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature, with vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Serves 6-8.
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Gerlinde de Broekert
January 11, 2020 at 2:19 pmI love all your different measuring cups and spoons. I understand your passion, I have quite a few myself. Your pie looks wonderful David, it reminds me of a French cake called clafoutis.
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:17 pmI guess it is very similar to a clafoutis, Gerlinde! The spoons and cups make it so fun to cook!
Jill
January 11, 2020 at 2:48 pmWow…looks delicious and so easy! Love the cups and spoons. Where does Mark find them,,? My husband has gifted a few but all are black and stainless steel. Look good in his office…
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:18 pmMark gets almost all of them at Anthropologie – they come out with several new sets each year. Definitely not for the office, unless your office is a really cool kitchen! 🙂
Christina | Christina's Cucina
January 11, 2020 at 4:25 pmLooks beautiful and bet it's absolutely delicious, David! Up until a couple of years ago I only had one set of stainless steel cups, then when I was at M & S in England, my cousin bought me a beautiful pastel colored set which I still have to use in a post. I honestly try not to promote cups as I would never use them if I didn't have a US audience. Scales are so much more precise, but I don't think we'll be losing cups anytime soon (and you'll be happy for that)! 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:19 pmI actually have some beautiful cups from Marks & Spencer, too.Now I have to remember where they are… they were small – for tablespoons and teaspoons but a cup design. So cute. I use the scale a lot but not always…
Andrea_TheKitchenLioness
January 11, 2020 at 7:56 pmDear David, beautiful collection of cups and spoons – always glad to see that I am not the only one out there who has a passion for collecting pretty kitchen/baking/cooking things;) How nice of Mark to gift you these darling spoons and cups. And your pear dessert does look wonderful and seasonal.
Liebe Gruesse,
Andrea
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:20 pmI think you were the one who might have got me started on this passion, Andrea – you have so many beautiful props!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
January 11, 2020 at 9:50 pmTurned out beautiful David! The blue pie plate is perfect! And for true confessions, I use 1% milk because that's what we like for drinking–and I am happy to make it less healthy by also adding heavy cream, since I buy my that by the half gallon 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:20 pmThanks, Inger – it has been made by several readers now and they all love it!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
January 11, 2020 at 9:51 pmPS Thanks for sharing 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:20 pmThat is what this is all about, isn't it ? 🙂
Eha
January 11, 2020 at 11:44 pmAbsolutely love your new measuring spoon sets and especially the second set of cups – I can see your smile from here ! And tho' I do not eat anything containing sugar and white flour, your pie looks very elegant . . .am sure it was greatly enjoyed . . .
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:21 pmThe new cups with the birds are so wonderful! Thanks, Eha…
Ron
January 12, 2020 at 3:31 pmWhat a great looking dessert, perfect with a hot cappuccino corrected with a touch of Sambuca.
I love your cup and spoon collection and I especially like the blue set.
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:22 pmThanks, Ron – I love that you "correct: your coffee with Sambuca!
Fran @ Gday Souffle
January 12, 2020 at 3:45 pmOh,I wouldn't mind having those copper-plated measuring cups- must have been expensive! My piece of extravagance is Vintage Tupperware- I've got a whole room full of it! I'm glad your recipe doesn't have crust-easier to get to the good stuff (pears and custard)!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:23 pmFun that you love vintage Tupperware, Fran! The copper cups were reasonable… nothing too expensive at Anthropologie!
2pots2cook
January 12, 2020 at 5:33 pmSame as Fran, I use vintage Tupperware 🙂 Love your simple pie: simple is always the best. Thank you David !
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:23 pmThanks, Davorka! I now have to start peeking around for vintage Tupperware.
All That I'm Eating
January 13, 2020 at 1:19 pmThis sounds so good! What's not to love? I love all your measuring cups and spoons, you put me to shame!
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:24 pmThanks, Caroline – I am the one who was shamed here! When is enough enough?
Jeff the Chef
January 13, 2020 at 2:20 pmThose definitely are some lovely implements. And what a gorgeous pie! I love that it's crustless, because, as much as I love a good crust, calories. I also love that it's pear. There's something about a pear dessert thats so sophisticated.
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:24 pmCalories, Jeff… sigh. It is the battle we fight all the time. Yet who doesn't love a pie with a wonderful crust?
Kitchen Riffs
January 15, 2020 at 4:25 pmYou've got the best collection of measuring devices I think I've ever seen. Some of them — OK, all of them! — are gorgeous. Must be a delight to use. And that pie? I'd like a slice, please. 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:25 pmThanks, John – I am so glad you enjoyed them, and only wish you were near to give a slice.
Sherry's Pickings
January 19, 2020 at 11:55 pmthis looks like a very pretty and healthy desssert – i mean to say – fruit!! i have several sets of measuring cups and spoons and would happily have more. i just love them! and when i cook, i do use more than one. after all, there are wet things and dry thingss and never the twain shall meet…
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:27 pmI like your philosophy, Sherry! That means I can get more, right?
Valentina
January 21, 2020 at 2:45 amGorgeous, David. The tart and of course, the measuring cups and spoons! LOVE them. Mark is a great gift giver! Do you display them? I have a few that are quite decorative and try to somehow keep them out to show them off. Seems a shame to put them in a drawer. Back to the recipe, I will try this one for sure — all the boys in my house have a thing for pears this time of year. 🙂 ~Valentina
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:27 pmWho doesn't have a thing for pears at this time of year? They are wonderful! Actually – that is a good question about display. No – they are in my drawers!
Frank
January 28, 2020 at 2:46 amA lovely, simple recipe. Just how I like my cooking, as you well know. I also appreciate how you make art out of something as practical as measuring cups and spoons. Very Italian of you… !
Cocoa & Lavender
January 29, 2020 at 2:28 pmThanks, Frank. Your last phrase warms my heart! 🙂