The Altitude Adjustment Section
Here is a sort of non-chocolate recipe from Chocolate Obsession for oven-dried pear slices — which of course, you can dip in chocolate — but this is also a great way to enjoy your home-grown pears after the season ends.
Ingredients
2 cups granulated sugar
1 2/3 cup water
1 cup key lime juice or fresh regular lime juice
3 medium pears (Bartlett are a good choice), green and hard
Procedure
Put the sugar and water into a saucepan, and stir occasionally over medium heat, till sugar dissolves and simmers, about 3 minutes. Add the lime juice and remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Cut the pear slices into 1/16 inch slices. I use a mandoline. As you slice, immediately submerge slices into lime liquid. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or up to 3 days. Preheat oven to 225. Line the bottom of 3 sheet pans with parchment. Carefully pat dry the slices and arrange them close together on the sheet pans. Bake them till they are completely dry and brown, about 2 hours. To test if they are done, cool one and it should be very crisp. Let cool at room temp and store them in an airtight container. Dip in chocolate before serving. This can also be done with apple slices and orange juice.
