Pear

Most people think of ambrosia salad as a cloud of chunky white fruit in a glass bowl with neatly arranged canned mandarins on top. But we've evolved from those dark ages, and it's high time this salad got a makeover. Ambrosia can be reeeaally delicious, if made with the best, freshest ingredients. If you are even thinking about using dried coconut flakes from a bag, don't bother with this. Sweet fresh coconut meat is what makes it a standout. I don't usually go for aperitifs, but a chilled glass of Lillet is perfect with this salad.

The crisped prosciutto adds salty and savory notes, not unlike what Parmesan brings to a Caesar dressing.

Tangy, luscious crème fraîche can easily be made by combining 1 cup of cream with 1 tablespoon buttermilk. Stir to mix completely, then leave at room temperature, covered with a clean towel, overnight. Stir to thicken slightly, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

This autumnal dessert is prepped in advance and then completed at the table—a delicious time saver!

We like to bake with a combination of apples: some sweet and some tart, some that keep their shape and others that will break down and get saucy. Adding the pear lends a perfumey quality to the cake.

This gorgeous dessert has just 5 ingredients and is super simple to make. Use a fine-mesh sieve to lightly dust the top with confectioners' sugar for an elegant finish.

Toast the cornbread for a nice crisp texture.

Ellsworth uses creamy bomba rice and orange-flower water to make an elevated rice pudding for her daughter—for breakfast: "It's a weekend treat."

Tami Hardeman, blogger (Running with Tweezers) and creator of these delightful desserts, says of her recipe, "I have to be honest - it's really all about the compote filling that gets folded up into these little pockets. It's chock full of the Indian-inspired spices that I crave with baked fruit: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon. The recipe makes more of this fruit filling than you'll need - save the rest of it in a mason jar for stuffed french toast, some melted brie on toast or stirred into yogurt."

This classic pie combines sweet Red Anjou pears with the subtle tartness of dried apricots and the distinct crunch of pecans.

Start your week off right with this delicious weeknight dinner of pork chops, potatoes, and sauteed pears. This dish will please the entire family - and it makes delicious leftovers, too!

Tender spinach is tossed with sliced fennel bulb and sweet pears in this simple salad that delivers complex flavor. Make it an entree salad by adding 4 ounces of grilled chicken per person.

This simple weeknight dinner brings together the natural sweetness of pears with earthy spinach and juicy chicken cutlets in a simple dish with explosive flavor.

From the kitchen of food blogger Hilary Finch Hutler of tummyrumblr.com comes beautiful and fresh take on a classic salad combination: fruit, nuts, and cheese. Toasted hazelnuts are the perfect match for sweet, ripe pears, and finely grated vintage cheddar cheese adds plenty of interest to the classic buttermilk dressing.

These lettuce wraps put a fresh, modern spin on a favorite Asian appetizer. Spiced with chili sauce, ginger, and garlic, this dish will leave you craving more!

Nationally renowned Chef Matthew Lightner of Atera in New York City is known for his special flair with seasonal ingredients. In this elegant-yet-approachable dish, Bosc pears are basted in caramel and served with homemade hazelnut butter and crunchy roasted hazelnuts. A scoop of good vanilla ice cream is the perfect complement to this fragrant and flavorful dessert.