This is my third year hosting Thanksgiving in our home for family and friends . . . and with each passing year, I add new dishes to our dinner and dessert menu.
~ 2011 Thanksgiving menu ~
~ 2012 Thanksgiving menu ~
I was very pleased with last year's dinner menu, so I don't plan on making any changes to it; however, I do plan on making a few changes to the dessert menu.
With lingering family and friends . . . and their comings and goings . . . I thought I would add two new desserts . . .
dark chocolate dipped pears
~ & ~
I've noticed that after a rich Thanksgiving meal, I'm not ready for rich desserts . . . so that's why I'm adding dark chocolate dipped pears.
The combination of the light, sweet pear and smooth dark chocolate . . . is just that . . . light and smooth. I could easily enjoy one after a rich meal and not feel overwhelmed by another rich food, like pumpkin pie and cheesecake.
Don't get me wrong, I will also be enjoying pie (and truffles!!) . . . but it will be much later Thanksgiving evening (smile).
I'm so excited to share this exquisite dessert with my family and friends this year.
dark chocolate dipped pears
Ingredients
6 ounces of high-quality dark chocolate
4 pears
1/4 cup chopped pistachios, optional
Directions
To make tempered chocolate, chop the chocolate into pieces
and place 3/4 of it in a small glass bowl in a microwave for 15 seconds
exactly.
Stir the chocolate and continue to microwave for 15 seconds at a time,
stirring in between,
until the chocolate is smooth and shiny.
Add the remaining
1/4 of the chocolate and stir until smooth.
The chocolate should register 87 to
89 degrees F on a candy thermometer.
Dip each pear into the tempered chocolate (and then pistachios, optional)
and place on a
sheet pan covered with parchment paper. Refrigerate for 10 minutes to set.
