I used to rent a house in Oxford with an old pear tree in the garden. The tree was tall and planted on uneven ground at the back of a herbaceous border. Picking from the tree was hazardous, involving a ladder, deep breaths and plenty of daring. After a couple of seasons I decided the best way to enjoy the fruit was to wait for them to come to me. Whenever I heard a rustle and a thud I’d rummage in the undergrowth to see if there was enough for supper.
I visited Prince Charles’ gardens at Highgrove this week as part of a charity fundraiser. It was hard to imagine, looking at the perfection of his apple trees, that any of them would have the temerity to release their fruit until told to do so. The regiment of trees, each framed at the base in a perfectly square bed of lavender, was loaded with immaculate, unblemished green apples. And there wasn’t a windfall to be seen. The trees were magnificent, but they made me think nostalgically of my disobedient and unruly pear tree that offered up its fruit so noisily and chaotically.
The following day I visited my old house, now lived in by a great friend. We searched the undergrowth for enough of the slightly wonky and bruised fruit to make baked pears with. A windfall in both senses of the word.
Baked Pears With Hazelnut Brittle
Enough for 4
For the brittle:
5 tablespoons caster sugar
1 tablespoon water
50 grams roasted chopped hazelnuts
For the pears:
4 pears
4 tablespoons caster sugar
4 tablespoons sweet dessert wine
40 grams butter
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C.
Make the brittle by stirring the sugar and water together in a saucepan over a moderate heat until the sugar dissolves. Raise the heat and continue to stir until the syrup turns to caramel. Be careful you don’t let it get too dark, because it will taste bitter. Stir in the nuts and spread the toffee mixture out on a piece of baking paper — it will be scorching hot so don’t be tempted to touch it yet. Let it cool while you make the pears.
Peel the pears and put them in a dish with the sugar, wine and butter. Bake for around 50 minutes until the pears are soft and slightly caramelized. Check on them three or four times to see they don’t burn and each time spoon the juice over the top of the fruit. Snap the brittle into shards and eat with the pears and the juice.
You may know that I have a thing about eating outside, whatever the weather. I have two loyal and long-suffering friends who always wear vests when they come to visit. But even the most reluctant among you would have enjoyed eating those pears with me. As I walked outside a rainbow appeared in the sky. Even Prince Charles can’t order one of those.…
Simply wonderful pictures of pears in the red leaves, not to mention the rainbow. Pears were I’m sure delicious too.
I love unruly things too! And eating outside. Lovely pics, very autumnal.
Thanks Pascale — at last, someone who doesn’t think I’m mad eating in the rain.
and I’m very glad Mr/Ms/Mrs Anonymous that you enjoyed the post and the pictures
I’m waiting for my pear harvest at the moment, my three year old pear tree bought from the sick plants bay at a superstore has responded to my primitive attempts to create an espalier by giving me 20 beautiful unblemished pears — and now you’ve given me a marvellous recipe to use them — thanks.
Hi Liz You certainly won’t want any of those beautiful pears to thump to the ground like mine do. You’ve probably placed a protective mattress underneath the tree already to break their fall. Clever you — 20 is quite a feat.
Another wonderful treat…you are an inspiration to us lesser cooks and photographers Charlie! Thank you..I can’t wait for the next recipe, my cooking group and my book group follow you with interest! Helena
On behalf of our village WI I just wanted to say Charlie that we simply love your work and are telling all our friends about you and how inspirational you are! Mrs PW East Sussex
Thank you Helena — you’re very kind. I have sloes in my mind for next time. Not quite sure what yet…
I too loved the photographs of the pears and leaves. But I wondered, were they pear leaves? Or some lovely autumn leaves collected and placed for fun with the pears? Just curious. I’d love a pear tree with leaves of that color — and fruit.
I’m so glad you like the pictures. Sadly, the leaves didn’t grow on the pear tree but on an adjacent Virginia creeper.
Windfall fruit is the best — our neighbour kindly planted a mirabelle tree and I gather loads of windfal fruit that drops into our garden in the summer
I often make stewed pears but have never thought to bake them. Now I can’t imagine why not! Am craving that brittle too…
A lovely post!
These are gorgeous pictures… my dad has an apple and pear tree in his garden and he’s arriving later. I dare say he may bring me some fruit if I’m lucky!
Hi Jeanne
You obviously have the best kind of neighbours. I do too.
Thanks Sarah — you have obviously have the best kind of dad. I do too.