My father is coming over for supper tonight. (Tuesday as I write this.) Normally he has supper at my sister's place. She has an appointment tonight and so he is coming to me.
A little over a year ago my being able to entertain my father for supper was only a pipe dream. He used to say he was going to come over to England and visit me, but it never happened. I think it was just wishful thinking on his part.
Anyways, his dream of going over there didn't come true, but my dream of being able to feed him supper now and then has! I could never have predicted this in a million years.
Somethings the most golden things come out of the ashes our lives. Being able to entertain my father is the silver lining of what has been an extraordinarily difficult year for me.
He's always saying to me that he would love to have some Lunenburg sausage and he wishes my sister would cook some Lunenburg sausage for him. I decided to pick up some and cook it for him.
Lunenburg is a fishing village on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. I love going there in the summertime. They have the best fish and chips and it is the place where the Bluenose Schooner is stationed when it is not touring.
The Bluenose is on the Canadian dime, so it is real Canadian treasure. And Lunenburg Sausage is a real Lunenburg treasure.
It is made in Lunenburg to a specific recipe using ground beef, pork and a mix of spices. (summer savory, coriander, onions, etc.) My dad is going to be so pleased when he sees that I have gotten some for him! I can't wait!
There is nothing I love more than making my father happy and I feel so very blessed to be able to now spend these years, for as many as we have, with him close by.
He is 87 now so I know there are not many left and I plan on making the best out of whatever time we have to spend together.
My father always likes a little bit of sweet at the end of every meal. He loves his desserts. He will often eat less of his main meal, just so that he can have some pudding at the end.
He goes for fish and chips with some lady friends every Wednesday night. He loves his fish and chips, but I think he loves the apple pie and ice cream that he has at the end of the meal even more!
We always try to have some small indulgence for him, even if its only a cookie and his eyes always light up when he sees whatever it is.
Today I have baked him this Impossibly Easy Pear-Custard Pie. I hope that he likes it! And I cannot think of any reason why he wouldn't!
In this pear custard pie, sliced ripe pears are combined with a rich and creamy custard and then baked in a hot oven for about 25 minutes. (I added some dried cranberries)
At the end of the 25 minutes a buttery and moreish oat and brown sugar streusel is sprinkled over top and this pear custard tart is baked or about 12 to 15 minutes longer, to custard pie perfection!
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IMPOSSIBLY EASY PEAR-CUSTARD PIE
Simple ordinary ingredients. Nothing more. Nothing less.
pears (Make sure you use a nice sweet eating pear)
dried cranberries (optional)
For the Streusel Topping:
Baking mix (Bisquick or my homemade mix)
old fashioned oatmeal (large flake, not instant)
brown sugar
nutmeg and cardamom
butter, softened
I like to make my own Baking Mix from scratch, and I store it in the freezer. It comes in very handy for all sorts of things. Making biscuits, pancakes, etc.
You needn't worry about using it all up. I have plenty of recipes on here that are delicious and that you can use it in:
Just to name a few. Never fear, you will always find a way to use it up!
HOW TO MAKE IMPOSSIBLY EASY PEAR-CUSTARD PIE
Nothing could be easier to make than this pie. I like to make the streusel topping first. Just measure all of the dry ingredients for the streusel into a bowl and rub in the butter with your finger tips until you have a nice and crumbly mixture.
You will need a 9-inch glass pie dish. I use a pyrex one that I have. Butter it really well and set aside while you make the filling.
Whisk together some of the baking mix, some sugar, softened butter, eggs and milk. Pour this into your buttered baking dish. Layer in your sliced pears. (I scattered some dried cranberries in between.) I also pushed them down a bit so that they were mostly covered with the custard.
This gets baked in your preheated oven for about 25 minutes and then you take it out and scatter that oaty streusel over top evenly. Back into the oven it goes for another 12 to 15 minutes, until the custard is set and the streusel is golden brown.
You will know the custard is set when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Really nothing could be easier.
Bear in mind, you DO need to let it cool for about half an hour before you cut into it. So plan accordingly. This is fabulous served warm, and as you can see cuts really well.
Because it is a custard pie, with eggs, you will need to refrigerate any leftovers, which won't be a lot if you are a family of any size. I guarantee you will have no problem gobbling it all up!
I really hope that my father enjoys it. Its not too heavy on the sugar like some things and the fruit will be good for him. I don't think he eats enough fruit.
I have some squirty creamy for him to enjoy on top of it. I think Vanilla ice cream would also be excellent, especially where the pie is meant to be served warm. I am going to rewarm his for about 20 seconds in the microwave when the time comes.
His treat will be the sausage and this pie. My treat will be being able to please him. Everyone's a winner!
Impossibly Easy Pear-Custard Pie
Yield: 8
Author: Marie Rayner
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 40 Mininactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 1 H & 25 M
This is probably one of the easiest pies you could make. It is creamy and rich and filled with pears, and dried cranberries (optional) with a moreish and buttery crisp oat streusel topping! Make sure you use a well flavored pear for this.
Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4. Butter a 9-inch glass pie dish very well. Set aside.
Stir the biscuit mix, sugar, oats, and spices together for the streusel topping in a small bowl. Drop in the butter and rub in until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
Whisk together the biscuit mix, eggs, milk, sugar, and butter for the filling. Pour this mixture into the pie dish. Arrange the pears evenly over top along with the dried cranberries, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over top. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes longer, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
Serve warm with or without some whipped cream on top.
Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
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I'm so happy for both you and your father that you are now able to spend time together. Something very good that came out of all the bad things that happened. Also being able to see your sister, brother, your children and grandchildren again - there is nothing more precious. Enjoy.
This sounds lovely - fruit and custard baked into a lovely crumble/pie. All things I love to eat. This one will be on my "to bake" list as there are beautiful, fresh, seasonal pears around at the moment. No Bisquick or Crisco or anything resembling them here, but I can substitute (as usual - lol!)
Thanks so much Marie. He did enjoy his supper. I am never sure who he enjoys most, me or the cats! I think it’s a draw! Lol you and I are the best at making substitutes. Living in foreign countries and thrift taught us that skill! Xoxo
Lucky you! Lucky Dad! Being able to enjoy each others company after so many years apart is wonderful. You have a lot of catching up to do. He must really enjoy having dinner with you and with Cindy and Dan. He is so lucky to have such devoted daughters so close. Happy Wednesday. Hugs and love, Elaine
Thanks Elaine. He does enjoy having Cindy make dinner for him every day, plus it gives him something to do and a place to go, a purpose which we all know is so important! Happy Wednesday! Love and hugs, xoxo
Custard pie was my dad's favorite and I would often make it for him. But I think he would be over the moon with this one -- the pears are such a wonderful touch and anything with streusel gets bonus points from me. Most of all, I'm just thrilled that you can make dinner for your dad. I'd love to be able to do that again.
I volunteer at my local library on Tuesday evenings. The staff/ volunteers at that time have been taking turns bringing a baked treat to share. In looking to find a “fall” dessert for my next turn that didn’t use pumpkin or apples, I found this pear custard pie recipe. Guess what I’m making on my next turn! Thanks so much for your luscious recipes.
The pear pie sounds divine. My mother used to make one and I don't know why I don't make it - except that I'd eat it all by myself! I'll try this one. Thanks, Marie. Glad you are able to enjoy so much Dad-time now.
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This is a book I wrote several years ago, published by Passageway Press. I am incredibly proud of this accomplishment. It is now out of print, but you can still find used copies for sale here and there. If you have a copy of it, hang onto it because they are very rare.
Welcome, I'm Marie
Canadian lover of all things British. I cook every day and like to share it with you!
A third of my life was spent living in the UK. I learned to love the people, the country and the cuisine. I have always been an Anglophile. You will find plenty of traditional British recipes here in my English Kitchen. There are lots of North American recipes also, but then again, I am a Canadian by birth. I like to think of my page as a happy mix of both. If you are looking for something and cannot find it, don't be afraid to ask! I am always happy to help and point you in the right direction, even if it exists on another page, or in one of my many cookbooks.
I'm so happy for both you and your father that you are now able to spend time together. Something very good that came out of all the bad things that happened. Also being able to see your sister, brother, your children and grandchildren again - there is nothing more precious. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds lovely - fruit and custard baked into a lovely crumble/pie. All things I love to eat. This one will be on my "to bake" list as there are beautiful, fresh, seasonal pears around at the moment. No Bisquick or Crisco or anything resembling them here, but I can substitute (as usual - lol!)
Thanks so much Marie. He did enjoy his supper. I am never sure who he enjoys most, me or the cats! I think it’s a draw! Lol you and I are the best at making substitutes. Living in foreign countries and thrift taught us that skill! Xoxo
DeleteLucky you! Lucky Dad! Being able to enjoy each others company after so many years apart is wonderful. You have a lot of catching up to do. He must really enjoy having dinner with you and with Cindy and Dan. He is so lucky to have such devoted daughters so close. Happy Wednesday. Hugs and love, Elaine
ReplyDeleteThanks Elaine. He does enjoy having Cindy make dinner for him every day, plus it gives him something to do and a place to go, a purpose which we all know is so important! Happy Wednesday! Love and hugs, xoxo
DeleteCustard pie was my dad's favorite and I would often make it for him. But I think he would be over the moon with this one -- the pears are such a wonderful touch and anything with streusel gets bonus points from me. Most of all, I'm just thrilled that you can make dinner for your dad. I'd love to be able to do that again.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jeanie! I love spending time with my dad. It’s an extra special blessing! Xoxo
DeleteOh ! Your Dad ( or maybe you call him "Pa" ) is in for a real treat ! :)
ReplyDeleteNOpe, we call him dad! He loves his pie! Thanks Debs! xoxo
DeleteI volunteer at my local library on Tuesday evenings. The staff/ volunteers at that time have been taking turns bringing a baked treat to share. In looking to find a “fall” dessert for my next turn that didn’t use pumpkin or apples, I found this pear custard pie recipe. Guess what I’m making on my next turn! Thanks so much for your luscious recipes.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Linda! I hope that it is enjoyed! xoxo
DeleteThe pear pie sounds divine. My mother used to make one and I don't know why I don't make it - except that I'd eat it all by myself! I'll try this one. Thanks, Marie. Glad you are able to enjoy so much Dad-time now.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Carolyn. Hope you enjoy the pie. I am really enjoying my time with dad. Its very precious! xoxo
Delete