As a fellow college student, I understand the struggle of choosing convenience and thrift over health. It came as a surprise to me that fresh produce is one of the best things to buy on a budget. For example, I found that on average, d’Anjou pears cost $1.90 per pound in the United States. That’s about three to four pears per pound!
If you are discouraged by the fact that supermarkets are far away, the Berkeley Student Food Collective is a great alternative to find fresh produce. Even though it may be hard to find the time, I highly recommend getting familiar with the price of produce to better understand how to lead a cheap and healthful lifestyle. This baked pears recipe is an awesome way to do just this!
Ingredients
2 d’Anjou pears
3 tablespoons walnuts
2 teaspoons maple syrup (or honey)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and set the oven on “bake.” While the oven is preheating, wash your pears thoroughly.
After you have washed your pears, dry them off with a paper towel and cut them in half. Take a spoon and scoop out the seeds of the pears. To prevent your pears from baking unevenly and rolling around when you carry them to and from the oven, I suggest cutting off a little sliver of the bottom of each pears so that they lie flat on your tray.
Once you have cut your pears, lay them on a lined baking tray or oven-safe plate. It is essential that you line it with aluminum foil or wax paper so that you don’t have to scrub hardened maple syrup or honey off your tray. Take your walnuts and break them apart into little pieces. Fill the pears with the walnuts where you have scooped out the seeds.
Evenly pour your maple syrup or honey over the pears. It may not look like much, but I promise that you will be able to taste the sweetness. Lastly, sprinkle your cinnamon over each pear.
Stick the pears in the oven for 20-25 minutes, until they become golden brown on top. When ready, take them out and enjoy! These baked pears taste great alone, but you can always up the flavor by eating them with some yogurt or vanilla ice cream.
