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Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce | www.chocolatemoosey.com

Why is it important to be heart healthy? Today’s post really hits home as a lot of people are affected by heart disease, whether it runs in the family or whether it’s someone they know. Kim from Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen from Juanita’s Cocina want to dedicate today to their loved ones and invited me to share a heart-healthy treat. Of course, being the girl who loves fat, it was a little bit of a challenge, but thanks to my dad’s love of fruit, I made these Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce. With just only two servings, you can share this dessert with your loved one and know that dessert can be heart healthy.

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce | www.chocolatemoosey.com
Kim’s and Jen’s lives were turned upside down one day because of heart disease. Fortunately, I don’t have any stories like that in my family, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore being heart healthy. My dad’s friend suffered a heart attack a few years ago. Then just two weeks ago there were several people in my community who either passed away from or survived a heart attack. Every day that my parents get older, I worry about their health. It almost makes me want to move closer to home (actually, I would in a heart beat, but it’s all about job availability).

 

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce | www.chocolatemoosey.com

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce | www.chocolatemoosey.com

I thought about doing a healthy dinner or even breakfast, but I wanted to challenge myself and make a heart healthy dessert. After all, you need a little sweetness in life, no matter what your diet is. What makes these Mini Pear Walnut Crisps heart healthy? The fruit and the nuts. Pears are a great source of vitamins, potassium, and antioxidants that help prevent high blood pressure and stroke. Walnuts have been approved by the FDA for being heart healthy. There is also little fat added (the ice cream part is optional if you’re super conscious about calories).

 

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce | www.chocolatemoosey.com

Of course, you can’t have a warm crisp without ice cream, and you can’t have ice cream without sauce. I still have half a bunch of blood oranges left, which inspired the Blood Orange Caramel Sauce. I remember when I made Dorie Greenspan’s Scallops with Orange Caramel Sauce. I took her recipe, used blood orange juice then substituted water for the wine.

 

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce | www.chocolatemoosey.com

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce

Mini Pear Walnut Crisps with Blood Orange Caramel Sauce

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped pear, peeled (roughly 1 small pear)
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon clove

Streusel

  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • 1 Tablespoon quick cooking oats
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon clove
  • 1 Tablespoon butter

Sauce

  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons blood orange juice
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 Tablespoon butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Have two ramekins ready.
  2. In a medium bowl, toss together the pear, walnuts, lemon juice, vanilla, cornstarch, cinnamon, and clove. Spoon into the ramekins. Set aside.
  3. For the streusel: In another medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon, and clove. Cut in the butter with a knife until coarse crumbs form. Sprinkle evenly over both ramekins.
  4. Bake 30-35 minutes or until crisp bubbles and the streusel is brown.
  5. For the sauce: While the crisps are baking, in a small saucepan, warm the sugar over medium-high heat until it starts to melt. As soon as you see it turn brown, begin to gently swirl the pan. Once it starts turning a caramel color, very carefully add the orange juice and water (it will bubble and spatter, so you may need to stand back). Stir with a wooden spoon and boil until it is reduced by half (it should roughly be about 2 1/2 tablespoons or so). Remove from the heat and stir in the butter until melted. Serve the crisps with ice cream and caramel sauce.

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© Carla Cardello

Source: Adapted from McCormick and Dorie Greenspan’s Around My French Table

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If you are looking for more heart healthy recipes, check out the other bloggers participating today:

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Kung Pao Chicken Tacos by The Dutch Baker’s Daughter

Honey Soy Glazed Salmon by Curry and Comfort

Apple Walnut Spinach Salad by Magnolia Days

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Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon by That Skinny Chick Can Bake

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Thai Chicken Soup by From Cupcakes to Caviar

Italian Turkey Quinoa Meatloaf by Rachel Cooks

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