Pick of the Season: Pears
Written By Lesley Porcelli
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This shapely fruit's been around since the dinosaur days.
Is your kid a pearmaniac? It's a real word. In 19th-century New England, there was such a craze for pears that the term "pearmania" was coined to describe it. Gentlemen farmers competed to produce the tastiest specimens and savored the fruits in the library — much as they would retire after dinner to smoke cigars. Once Californians began growing and shipping pears across the country by train, it was the birth of the populist pear.If your child's enthusiasm for the fruit is less than manic, maybe he has yet to taste a good one.
Pear Quesadillas
Serves 4 (snack) or 2 (lunch)
2 ounces extra-sharp cheddar or Gruyere cheese, coarsely grated
2 (7-inch) flour tortillas
1/2 pear (any type), cored and sliced into 1/8-inch-thick wedges
1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
Have your child sprinkle three-fourths of the cheese over one tortilla. Arrange the pear slices over the cheese and sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the pears. Top with the second tortilla.
Melt butter in a skillet until bubbling, then slide in the quesadilla. Cook over medium heat until the cheese begins to melt, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook about 3 minutes more. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand 2 minutes before cutting into wedges.
What's Good for You
The protein in the cheese and the fiber in the pear help make this a healthy dish for kids. Protein is essential for growth, and fiber helps prevent constipation.
