Guest Cook: Kamryn's Pear Delight

This delicious dessert is called Pear Delight.

My cousin Kathy got the recipe when her daughter was in high school, someone made it for one of the parent/teacher/student meetings, and it's been a family favorite ever since.

 

 

Kathy's daughter Kamryn made it for one of our luncheons--and of course I had to take some photos and ask if she would like to be a Guest Blogger with this recipe.

Kamryn graciously consented to make the Pear Delight for FOODjimoto--she did the cooking while her friend Lauren took the photos--Lauren is majoring in photography at the California College of Arts & Crafts.

Kamryn's a little on the shy side, and also quite busy with college at UCLA, so I'm going to blog the instructions, Kamryn is our Guest Cook,  and Lauren our Guest Photographer.

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Ingredients:

Crust:

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup flour

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

1 large can pears

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Before you begin mixing the crust, heat oven to 350ºF and ready your 8" x 8" baking dish by spraying it with a non-stick spray.

Put 1/2 cup butter into the mixing bowl,

and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.

Then measure 1/4 teaspoon vanilla.

Add it to the mixing bowl.

Then add 3/4 cup flour.

Cream ingredients together until evenly combined.

Turn out into your prepared 8 x 8 inch pan.

Gently press the dough to cover the bottom of the pan.

After the dough is evenly distributed on the bottom, bake the crust 10 minutes at 350ºF.

The crust will not be completely cooked, you'll be baking it again later after adding the pears.

While the crust is cooking, drain and start slicing the pears.

You want thin, even slices.

Kamryn's got a nice technique with her knife.

She's got nice, even slices, too!

Set the pears aside.

In a small bowl,  put 8 ounces of cream cheese, then microwave for 20 seconds or so to soften.

Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla,

1 egg,

and 1/4 cup sugar.

Whisk together until smooth.

Pour the cream cheese mixture over the baked crust.

Place the pears over the cream cheese filling, in four rows, leaving a little reveal of the pear slice in front to make it pretty.

Sprinkle 2 teaspoons cinnamon sugar over the pears.

Spread the cinnamon sugar until evenly distributed.

Bake 25 minutes at 375ºF.

Refrigerate overnight before cutting, otherwise the dessert is runny.

After refrigerating the dessert overnight, cut into squares.

Channie (that's Kathy's family nickname) told me that this dessert is so coveted that family members have been known to hide portions during a party so they'll be sure to have another piece later!

Itadakimasu!

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This is Kamryn.

 

She is very sweet, soft-spoken, creative, competent and fun.

 

Kamryn loves party planning.

Here's Kammie with her 'sister' Kadee on her birthday.

 

I love this pic with Kammie and her friends at their Oprah finale party.

Kamryn loved The Oprah Winfrey Show, she's watched it her whole life.

 

I told you she's a lot of fun!

So is her cousin Erin.

 

Here's a shot of Lauren taking the photos.

This is Lauren--second from the left.

Lauren, your photos are lovely!

Thank you, Kamryn and Lauren, for making your Pear Delight and sharing it here on FOODjimoto!

Look for their Santa Rosa Valley Salad coming soon!

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Pear Delight

Ingredients for an 8 x 8 inch baking dish:

Crust:

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup flour

Blend together crust ingredients and press into an 8 x 8 inch pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake 10 minutes at 350ºF. The crust will not be completely cooked through, but will finish cooking later after adding the pears.

Filling:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Soften cream cheese in a small bowl and whisk together filling ingredients until smooth. Pour over baked crust.

Topping:

1 large can pears

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Drain and cut pears into even slices. Place pear slices over filling, in four rows and leaving a little reveal of the previous placed pear for an attractive pattern. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon mixture. Bake 25 minutes at 375ºF.

Refrigerate overnight before cutting to insure firmness.