Yield: 8 servings.
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
¼ cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon fresh nutmeg
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, sliced ¼-inch thick
2 Anjou or Bartlett pears, cored, sliced ¼-inch thick (do not peel)
1 (9 x 13-inch) sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
Powdered sugar, for garnish
Preheat oven to 425°. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, melted butter, lemon juice, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg. Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Top with sliced apples and pears. Roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
Line a 9 x 13-inch baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold puff pastry and place onto the baking sheet, pressing lightly to fit evenly in the corners of the pan. Using a paring knife, make a shallow cut around the border of the pastry, 1 inch from edges. Generously prick bottom of pastry with a fork. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.
Place apples and pears on top of pastry. Spoon any remaining sugar syrup over apples and pears. Bake 7 to 10 minutes more or until pastry is golden brown. Garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar just before serving.
Why does this Haywood County town have some of the cleanest water in the state? It’s the result of the community’s efforts to keep the forests in its watershed pristine.
The spectacular views in North Carolina’s High Country aren’t just inspiration for writers, painters, and sculptors. Those landscapes — the rugged gray face of Grandfather Mountain, the vibrant fall leaves, the deep green meadows — are brushstrokes on Earth’s own canvas.
The sprawling vineyards and wide-open skies that stretch for miles across seven North Carolina counties offer relaxing getaways — not to mention some of the state’s finest wines — for Sunday drivers aching to escape the rush of city life.
Nothing lasts forever — and that’s what makes many of our cherished moments so special.
