Soothes with Pears

Am in a mood for sharing tonight. So here goes my third entry for the day.

Ever found yourself preparing a nice Chinese dinner for the family or grilling that herbs marinated chicken for a candle light dinner for two, and yet you run out of ideas for a simple and yet great dessert?

Search no more. I have two suggestions! One, refer to my watermelon piece. Or, two, do something with pears.
This is a very versatile recipe, you can either double boil, slowcook it, or simmer in a pot.

Ingredients:
1. Pears. One pear serves two, split in half. Core or remove seeds. My favourite is to use Bosc Pears (the brown and slightly thick skinned pears). Or any other pears of your choice. However, Bosc  pears when cooked has  a beautiful aroma that is yummy in itself.
2. Winter melon sugar or rock sugar, or both. Sweetness to taste. I find that a medium sized piece of rock sugar (about 3" in diameter) and some 6 to 8 pieces of wintermelon sugar cooked in three bowls of water is just nice for my sweet bud.
3. a small pinch of tea leaves - you can use any good Chinese tea leaves, be it Oolong orTit Kuan Yin, and even Earl Grey.

Let's look at simmering this in a pot. Melt the rock sugar in a pot of water enough for two if you are cooking two half-pears. Stir in the winter melon sugar.  Put in a small pinch of the tea leaves of your choice. Let this cook for a while or until the rock sugar is melted.

Add the half-pears into the sugar and tea water. Add another smaller pinch of tea leaves on top of the pears. Simmer at low for at least 45 mins.

You can serve this hot or cold. For a cold serving, simply remove from the fire and let it cool, before putting it   into the fridge. But my preference is to serve warm. As with any food of medicinal/healing values, serving it warm is the best.

For double-boiling or slow-cooking, simple put in hot water and all the ingredients together. Cook for 1 and half to two hours if double boiling it. Whilst you can leave it longer if you choose to slow cook it. My favourite is to have it slowly cooked in a slow cooker for half a day, whilst I go about preparing the other dishes. Or take a nap.

You may alternatively add about half a dozen pieces of dried longan for the extra sweetness and taste. But i prefer it plain.

The pears cooked this way contributes yin energy, enhance complexion and regulate sputum in our body. This helps in dry and hot weather like now to move the phlegm from the lungs. Longans, if you use them, is tonic for the spleen and heart.

I have had this in a restaurant too, at a pretty expensive price per bowl. So I know this must be good stuff! Hehehe!

Well, enjoy and stay healthy.