Consuming Thoughts by Fay Strickier Penn State Extension Home Economist for Berks Co. Today’s consumers look for foods that have great taste and good nutrition. Pears measure up on both counts. High amounts of natural sugars, fructose, and glu cose are present in pears. At the same time, a 166 gram pear, with skin, provides 2.32 grams of crude fiber of which 41 percent is pectin. Another very important nutri ent is potassium, and the same 166 gram pear contains 208 milli grams. Potassium is necessary for maintaining heartbeat, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and carbohydrate and protein metabolism. With only 98 cal ories in a 166 gram pear, this fruit provides a calorie-light, deli cious, and healthy snack. Pears are grown by Pennsylva nia growers but 98 percent of the nation’s pear crop is produced in the West Coast states of Oregon, Washington, and California. There are many pear varieties but only eight specific kinds of USA Pears are usually available in most stores during the year. Each variety has an identifiable shape, color, and unique flavor of its own. Learn to identify and ap preciate each for its particular character and great taste! Pears are one of the few fruits that do not mature well if allow ed to ripen on the tree. As a re sult, they are picked before they are ripe. Then they are carefully packed, stored and shipped. FALL ISSUE - SEPTEMBER 20 ORGANIC DAIRY PRODUCTION Regional organic dairy farm features: what makes them successful? University research production. Breed and cooperative news and views. Business news highlights. Call your Advertising Sales Representative usually still unripened. This is the reason you will often find firm, unripened pears when you buy them. Let them stand a few days at room temperature. As they ripen, changes occur on the inside of the fruit that greatly increase the sugar and juice content. Don’t al ways count on color changes to let you know when your pears are best for delicious eating. Some varieties will change color and others do not. Pears can be used any way you would use an apple. Here’s a new per recipe for you to try. QUICK PEAR KUCHEN 1 (29-ounce) can pears OR VA pounds fresh pears 1 package hot roll mix V* cup warm water legg 1 tablespoon melted butter Vi cup sugar VA teaspoons cinnamon Peel and slice fresh pears or drain canned pears and slice, if halves are used. Prepare roll mix with water and egg as directed on package. Spread in greased 13x9x2-inch pan. Brush with melted butter. Arrange pear slices in rows over dough, pressing in slightly. Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over pears. Let rise until doubled, 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees 40 to 45 min utes, or until golden brown. Makes 12 servings. Deadline: or 717-626-1164 Pumpkin Pie SCHAEFFERSTOWN (Leba non Co.) Pumpkin pie bakers should take note that they can enter their home-baked pies in the annual pie-baking contest at the Pennsylvania German Folk life Festival on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Schaeffer Farm in Schaefferstown. Pies must be taken to the festival information booth by 11 a.m. on the 13th with a copy of the complete recipe that lists ail ingredients (including pie crust) as well as all preparation steps. First-, second-, and third- Booklet Features Bonus Dairy Coverage For Producers September 4 Focus; into organic dairy Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 30, 2003-B9 Baking Contest Announced place winners will each receive a medal and a free, one-year family membership in Historic Schaef ferstown, Inc. The Pennsylvania German Folklife Festival is a two-day event conducted on Saturday, Sept. 13 and Sunday, Sept. 14 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors will enjoy 18th and 19th century crafts, cooking, baking, and apple butter making, cider press ing, rock crushing, saw milling, live musical entertainment, free tours of the Schaeffer House, and much more. All this is in cluded in the $5 person ad mission fee. Children under 11 with an accompanying adult are free. Discounted two-day admission passes available. For more in formation, call (717) 949-2244. The Festival is part of Historic Schaefferstown, Incorporated (HSI), a nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to collect, preserve, study, and dis seminate of the history and folk culture of the Pennsylvania Ger mans in South Central Pennsyl vania, with particular focus on Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. Schaefferstown is located ap proximately 20 miles east of Her shey, 25 miles west of Reading, and 19 miles north of Lancaster at the intersection of PA Routes 501, 419, and 897. The Schaeffer Farm is located at 213 S. Carpen ter Street (Route 501). Light Up Vour Home With n Tubular Skylight Noturol Light • Bright, pure, healthy light • Little or no heat gain or loss • Fits oil roof tvpes • 10", 13", 18" equals up to 1,000 watts of light • 25 year warranty Have us install or ash For the Do-It-Voursclf Kit. Can be shipped UPS 265 E. Meadow Valley Rd., Lititz, PA 17543 717-733-7160 • 717-627-6886 1-800-247-2107 Financing Available W-MAZ 2^JI
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