Tips for using pears

Cooking with Bartlett pears is easy. Some tips for the cook:

To help cut or sliced Bartletts retain their color, dip them into a mixture of one tablespoon lemon juice and one cup water.

Ripe but firm Bartlett pears are fine for poaching or baking.

If your pears become overripe, use them as a base for a blended drink or pureed sauce.

Bartlett pears can be a handy addition to entrees. Try them on pizza with caramelized onions and blue cheese crumbles, or in salsa with grilled seafood or poultry.

See low-fat recipe using Bartlett pears on page 2D.

Ideas on sneaking vegetables in dishes

Children won’t eat their vegetables? Parents magazine offers these tips:

Make buttered pasta shells with frozen peas and corn.

Grate carrots and mushrooms into marinara sauce.

Layer spinach into your child’s favorite lasagna.

Add grated zucchini to the meat when making meatballs.