Pears from the Painter Muffins

The painter we hired to paint our kitchen cabinets came highly recommended.  He did an excellent job and the kitchen looks great.  No one mentioned that he was a painter that steals back into the yard and leaves vegetables and fruits on a customer's back porch.  He does!  First to appear was a grocery bag filled with perfectly ripe tomatoes, green peppers and green beans.  The note attached simply said "Organically Grown - Enjoy".  We did.  Last week, a large market basket appeared on the porch filled with pears and the same note.  I can't wait until spring when I'm going to find some other area in the house for him to paint.  I wonder if he grows asparagus!!

When your painter gives you pears, make....

PEAR MUFFINS

(Aunt Emma's recipe with my topping)

makes 12 muffins

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1/2 cup canola oil

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups chopped peeled ripe pears

1/2 cup chopped pecans

In a large bowl,  combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  In another bowl, combine the egg, oil and vanilla and stir into the dry ingredients until just moistened.  Fold in the pears and pecans.  

Fill paper-lined muffin tins about two thirds full.   Top with:

STREUSEL TOPPING

1/4 cup flour

3 tbsp dark brown sugar

2 tbsp butter (at room temperature)

In a small bowl, combine flour and sugar.  Cut in the softened butter until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

Sprinkle over muffins.

Bake at 350 degrees 25-30 minutes, or until the topping is lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean.

Serve warm.

ENJOY!