Artichoke? No Pears? Yes

After getting my haircut I decided to stop at Brennan's to get some artichokes for tonight's dinner. I have been totally craving them since creating the family cookbook. I looked around and found out they are not in season. I guess I will crave them a little longer. I did discover that Brennan's places recipes by the different fruits and veggies they go with. Great sales tool on their part. I start wandering the aisles and pick up the recipes that sound good. By the pears I discover a recipe for pear cobbler. hmmm sounds really good. I get all the ingredients I need and off I go with my purchases. The cobbler is delicious. Here's the recipe. The main thing I would change is double the dough part.

Easy Pear Cobbler

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter, melted and divided

6 very ripe pears, cored, and halved lengthwise (about 2 1/4 lbs)

1 cup flour

1 cup granulated sugar, divided

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

1/4 brandy

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 teaspoons grated lemon rind

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Drizzle the bottom of a 13 X 9 inch baking dish with 1 1/2 tablespoons butter. Arrange pear halves in 3 rows, cut sides down, over butter. Lightly spoon flour into a dry measuring cup and level with a knife. Combine flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, baking powder and salt in a small mixing bowl. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, milk and brandy; stir until well-blended. Spoon the batter around the pear halves. Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar and lemon rind; sprinkle over pear halves. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Don't want to use brandy, substitute 1/4 cup apple cider and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Be sure the pears are ripe or they will end up very firm.

Serves 9.