Holiday Entertaining

A favorite way to entertain

especially during the holiday season

is to meet friends for dinner

And then come back to Linderhof

for dessert and coffee

Dessert service set up in the dining room

Coffee

(de-caf, please)

And, of course, we use the Christmas china,

Royal Dolton Tartan

And dessert 

An pear cranberry pie

Lenox Holiday dessert plates

(all bought after Christmas for pennies on the dollar --

I have twenty-four of them which I find the perfect number)

It's festive, it's Christmas

A pear and cranberry pie

Because I had both pears and cranberries

And I love the subtle flavor of pears

And the tartness of cranberries coordinate perfectly.

It's a simple pie to make

And I will make it again!

PEAR CRANBERRY PIE

2 T. flour

1/2 c. maple syrup

2 T. butter, melted

5 c. sliced pears

1 c. cranberries

Combine flour, syrup and butter and mix until smooth.   Add pears and cranberries and toss to coat fruit.   Pour into pie shell.

Topping:

1/2 c. flour

1/4 c. brown sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1/3 c. butter

1/2 c. walnuts or pecans

Combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon.    Cut in butter until the size of small peas.     Add nuts.    Sprinkle over filling.    Bake at 400 for 15 minutes then turn the heat to 350 and bake an additional 45 to 40 minutes.    NOTE:   I covered my pie crust with foil for the initial baking period so it wouldn't get too brown.