Campus Cooking: Pear Crisp

I sincerely like not having to spend money. I think that most people would agree with me on that! And that is the reason that I LOVE this pear crisp - I didn't spend a cent on the pears!

Ok ok.

Technically, I did.

They were taken from the dining hall here at school, which makes it seem like it's for free...but I DO pay for a meal plan.

Oh well....
I still did not pay for a single one of these pears out of my own pocket xD

And this was an easy dish to make in this small kitchen, with my limited cooking supplies.

Look how yummy it looks! Nom nom nom.

Now, on to this simple, delicious pear crisp recipe!!...

PEAR CRISP

Filling:

- 6-8 pears, or enough to almost completely fill an 8x8in pan when sliced

- 1/2 c brown sugar

- 1/4 tsp ground ginger

- 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Crumb topping:

- 3/4 c all-purpose flour

- 1/2 c minus 2 tbs brown sugar (use light or dark depending on preference, I used light but dark might give it a nice touch)

- 1/4 c granulated sugar

- 3/4 stick unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Slice pears to medium thickness. Mix all of the filling ingredients together (you can add a squirt of lemon juice, which most recipes call for - I didn't use it, and it turned out fine), and pour into an 8x8 in baking pan.

3) Mix together crumb topping ingredients (minus the butter). Incorporate the butter properly by using your fingers or a pastry cutter until it is evenly distributed. (It should be like bread crumbs, with no visible clumps of butter anymore...the butter should be rubbed into the flour so it can coat it).

4) Top pear mixture evenly with crumb mixture. Put in a 350 degree oven until the top is golden and the inside is bubbly.

5) Eat warm right from the oven, or let it come to room temperature, or refrigerate it.

Notes:

- I gave this to the girls in my dorm, and they loved it. We were too impatient, so we ate it hot from the oven, which was REALLY good (woulda been better with some ice cream on top!), but it probably would've been sooo good cold too.

- Feel free to reduce the filling and increase the crumb topping, cuz everyone loves the crumb the most =D

- Taste this before baking! Check the spices to see if it is to your liking, and don't be afraid to adjust them. I personally love the ginger-pear flavor combo, but if it's not your thing, then try out stuff like cloves or something.

- Beware of bubbling over! Put a cookie sheet or some foil on the rack below to catch any sugary drippings. Make sure not to overfill the pan with the pears because then it will definitely drip (I speak from experience)

I hope you try this and enjoy! It is very simple and quick to make, and soo yummy =)