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Pears are one of our favourite winter fruits and they can feature largely in our cuisine. The site click @ Life presents nine delicious ways in which to include them in your diet

1. Salad with spinach, blue cheese, pears and walnuts

Fruits go well with green salad. Therefore, we often add an apple or an orange to our salad. Try adding a chopped pear to a spinach salad, together with small pieces of Roquefort and walnuts. The salty taste of the Roquefort "quenches" the freshness of the pear and nuts add fats and give the necessary tartness. Prepare a sweet vinaigrette with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a little honey and you will have a wonderful winter salad.

2. Pork with pears

Pork goes very well with sweet flavours such as the flavour of apricots or plums. Pears can substitute potatoes, with which we usually cook pork, and give sweetness to the dish. You can cut the pears into quarters and sauté them in a little butter and sugar until soft. Meanwhile, sauté the pork in a pan with a little oil and add the pears. Add one cup of water and simmer over low heat until tender.

3. Bruschetta with goat cheese and pears

You can prepare a winter version of the bruschetta by spreading some garlic and butter on the toast. Then, add a few slices of goat cheese and small pieces of pear. The taste of the cheese and pears are the perfect combination.

4. Smoothie with pears and honey

If you like fruit drinks, now is the season to prepare many delicious variations. In a blender, mix together a soft pear, a banana, half a cup of orange juice, 2 teaspoons of honey, a cup of milk and some ice. To make it more nutritious, you can add 1 teaspoon tahini.

5. Sangria with pears

Everybody loves sangria - that lovely red wine with fruits. Although it is usually drunk in the summer, it includes mainly winter fruits, such as apples, oranges and pears. Prepare winter sangria with 1 cup dry red wine, 1 cup brandy, 1 orange, cut in sections, as well as apple and pear slices. You can also add 4 tablespoons honey or sugar and 2 cinnamon sticks, if desired. Chill overnight to allow the flavours to blend and serve.

6. Cake with pears and walnuts

Fruits and cakes go well with nuts. Pears, apples and bananas add richness to the cake. You can mix 2 cups flour, a pinch of cinnamon,1 cup of sugar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon soda, 1 pot of yogurt, half a cup of milk, 2 pears, chopped, and a handful of walnuts. Bake at 180 degrees C for 40-45 minutes.

7. Chocolate mousse with pears

Pears combine beautifully with chocolate, especially unsweetened dark chocolate. For pear compote, in a pan, mix together 5 cored pears and 200 g sugar. When tender, puree them in a blender and mix them with chocolate mousse, made of 200 g chocolate, melted in half a cup of milk, and 200 g of cream.

8. Baked pears

Like baked apples, pears are delicious baked in the oven. The high temperature extracts the sweetness of the fruit, preserving nutrients. Cut the pears into halves and core them. Place them in a baking dish with the cut part down, add water and a glass of sweet wine, and sprinkle with some brown sugar and cinnamon, to taste. Leave over low heat for about 2 hours, until tender and caramelized.

9. Meringue with cream, pears and dates

This is a simple idea for a lovely winter dessert. It is prepared very easily with a meringue shell (home-made or ready-made) and sweet cream on top. Garnish it with pears cooked in water and sugar (or compote) and a few dates. Drizzle some melted chocolate on top.