Impossibly Easy Pear-Custard Pie

 My father is coming over for supper tonight. (Tuesday as I write this.)  Normally he has supper at my sister's place.  She has an appointment tonight and so he is coming to me.
A little over a year ago my being able to entertain my father for supper was only a pipe dream. He used to say he was going to come over to England and visit me, but it never happened.  I think it was just wishful thinking on his part.
  Anyways, his dream of going over there didn't come true, but my dream of being able to feed him supper now and then has!  I could never have predicted this in a million years. 
Somethings the most golden things come out of the ashes our lives. Being able to entertain my father is the silver lining of what has been an extraordinarily difficult year for me.  
He's always saying to me that he would love to have some Lunenburg sausage and he wishes my sister would cook some Lunenburg sausage for him.  I decided to pick up some and cook it for him.
Lunenburg is a fishing village on the South Shore of  Nova Scotia.  I love going there in the summertime. They have the best fish and chips and it is the place where the Bluenose Schooner is stationed when it is not touring. 
 The Bluenose is on the Canadian dime, so it is real Canadian treasure.  And Lunenburg Sausage is a real Lunenburg treasure.  
It is made in Lunenburg to a specific recipe using ground beef, pork and a mix of spices. (summer savory, coriander, onions, etc.)  My dad is going to be so pleased when he sees that I have gotten some for him!   I can't wait!

There is nothing I love more than making my father happy and I feel so very blessed to be able to now spend these years, for as many as we have, with him close by.
He is 87 now so I know there are not many left and I plan on making the best out of whatever time we have to spend together.
 My father always likes a little bit of sweet at the end of every meal.  He loves his desserts.  He will often eat less of his main meal, just so that he can have some pudding at the end.
He goes for fish and chips with some lady friends every Wednesday night. He loves his fish and chips, but I think he loves the apple pie and ice cream that he has at the end of the meal even more!
 We always try to have some small indulgence for him, even if its only a cookie and his eyes always light up when he sees whatever it is.
Today I have baked him this Impossibly Easy Pear-Custard Pie. I hope that he likes it!  And I cannot think of any reason why he wouldn't! 
 
In this pear custard pie, sliced ripe pears are combined with a rich and creamy custard and then baked in a hot oven for about 25 minutes.  (I added some dried cranberries)
At the end of the 25 minutes a buttery and moreish oat and brown sugar streusel is sprinkled over top and this pear custard tart is baked or about 12 to 15 minutes longer, to custard pie perfection!
 WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE IMPOSSIBLY EASY PEAR-CUSTARD PIE
Simple ordinary ingredients. Nothing more. Nothing less.
For the pie:

• baking mix (use something like Bisquick or my homemade mix)
• eggs
• milk
• sugar
• butter
• pears (Make sure you use a nice sweet eating pear)
• dried cranberries (optional) 

 For the Streusel Topping:

• Baking mix (Bisquick or my homemade mix)
• old fashioned oatmeal (large flake, not instant)
• brown sugar
• nutmeg and cardamom
• butter, softened

 I like to make my own Baking Mix from scratch, and I store it in the freezer. It comes in very handy for all sorts of things.  Making biscuits, pancakes, etc.
You needn't worry about using it all up. I have plenty of recipes on here that are delicious and that you can use it in:Easy 7-Up BiscuitsMagic Chicken Pie. Quick Drop Danish. Cheesy Turkey Burger Bake. 
 
Tuna Melt Tart.Apple Pie DanishMagic CheesecakeMac and Cheese Pie

Just to name a few. Never fear, you will always find a way to use it up!  
 HOW TO MAKE IMPOSSIBLY EASY PEAR-CUSTARD PIE
Nothing could be easier to make than this pie. I like to make the streusel topping first. Just measure all of the dry ingredients for the streusel into a bowl and rub in the butter with your finger tips until you have a nice and crumbly mixture. 
You will need a 9-inch glass pie dish. I use a pyrex one that I have. Butter it really well and set aside while you make the filling.
Whisk together some of the baking mix, some sugar, softened butter, eggs and milk. Pour this into your buttered baking dish.  Layer in your sliced pears. (I scattered some dried cranberries in between.)  I also pushed them down a bit so that they were mostly covered with the custard.
 This gets baked in your preheated oven for about 25 minutes and then you take it out and scatter that oaty streusel over top evenly. Back into the oven it goes for another 12 to 15 minutes, until the custard is set and the streusel is golden brown.
You will know the custard is set when a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.  Really nothing could be easier.  
 
Bear in mind, you DO need to let it cool for about half an hour before you cut into it. So plan accordingly.  This is fabulous served warm, and as you can see cuts really well.
Because it is a custard pie, with eggs, you will need to refrigerate any leftovers, which won't be a lot if you are a family of any size.  I guarantee you will have no problem gobbling it all up!

I really hope that my father enjoys it. Its not too heavy on the sugar like some things and the fruit will be good for him.  I don't think he eats enough fruit.

I have some squirty creamy for him to enjoy on top of it. I think Vanilla ice cream would also be excellent, especially where the pie is meant to be served warm.  I am going to rewarm his for about 20 seconds in the microwave when the time comes.

His treat will be the sausage and this pie. My treat will be being able to please him. Everyone's a winner!

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Impossibly Easy Pear-Custard Pie

Yield: 8Author: Marie RaynerPrep time: 15 MinCook time: 40 Mininactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 1 H & 25 MThis is probably one of the easiest pies you could make. It is creamy and rich and filled with pears, and dried cranberries (optional) with a moreish and buttery crisp oat streusel topping! Make sure you use a well flavored pear for this.

Ingredients

For the streusel topping:

• 1/2 cup (60g) baking mix (such as Bisquick or my homemade baking mix recipe)
• 1/4 cup (25g) old fashioned oats
• 1/4 cup (50g) packed soft light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1 heaped TBS butter, softened

For the pie:

• 1/2 cup (60g) baking mix (such as Bisquick or my homemade baking mix)
• 1/3 cup (75g) granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup (120ml) whole milk
• 2 TBS butter, softened
• 2 large free range eggs
• 3 medium fresh pears, peeled, cored and sliced
• a small handful of dried cranberries (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350*F/180*C/ gas mark 4.  Butter a 9-inch glass pie dish very well. Set aside.
2. Stir the biscuit mix, sugar, oats, and spices together for the streusel topping in a small bowl. Drop in the butter and rub in until you have a crumbly mixture. Set aside.
3. Whisk together the biscuit mix, eggs, milk, sugar, and butter for the filling. Pour this mixture into the pie dish.  Arrange the pears evenly over top along with the dried cranberries, if using.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over top.  Bake for 12 to 15 minutes longer, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
5. Serve warm with or without some whipped cream on top.
6. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

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