Pear and Ginger Cobbler

Ingredients:

• 8 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and cut into ¼ inch thick slices
• 1½ tablespoons grated fresh ginger (root), or more to taste
• ½ cup (125 ml) plus 6 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• finely grated zest of ½ lemon
• 2 cups (900 ml) all purpose flour
• 2 egg
• ½ cup (120 ml) milk
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ½ cup (120 ml) of butter
• pinch of salt

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425 °F (220 °C)
• Butter a large 14 inch (36 cm) long baking dish or casserole
• Combine the pears, ginger, ½ cup sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a large bowl
• Toss well to combine, and spoon into the prepared baking dish
• In another bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and 4 tablespoons of the sugar
• Work the butter and the shortening in with a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
• Lightly beat the egg and milk together, and then slowly stir this into the mixture
• Knead lightly, sprinkling on more flour if necessary to form a smooth, not sticky, dough
• Break off portions of the dough and place them on top of the fruit, pressing slightly and flattening the dough
• Cover the entire surface with the dough pieces to give a "cobbled" effect
• Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar over the dough, and bake until well browned, 35 to 45 minutes
• Serve immediately!
• Serves 6-8 [Christine Dörenberg]