Fried Pear Pies

Fried Pear Pies

This is a treat that I recommend trying.  Yes, these are fried and coated with sugar but an occasional indulgence is not a bad thing.  It gets to be a bad thing when this sort of dessert is eaten, several times a week.
This is my mother's fried pie dough recipe and the dough for these is not the usual pie dough.  Because the dough is fried, the proportions in this recipe are different. I have tried the Crisco recipe for fried pies but it is too flaky.  Be sure to roll the dough out thin and coarse chop the pears so that everything cooks evenly.

The Dough

2 cups of Flour
1/2 cup of Shortening
1/2 teaspoon of Salt
1/4 cup of cold Water

Blend flour, salt,  and shortening together with a pastry cutter until the mix is crumbly and the size of small peas.  With a fork, mix in the water until the flour mixture becomes a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate about 30 minutes.

Filling

Peel, seed, and chop 3 large, ripe Pears
toss with
1/3 cup of Flour
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 teaspoon of Cinnamon

Assembling

Roll pie dough out on a clean surface.  Using a 3 1/2" glass, cut circles from the dough.  Place a small amount of pear filling in the middle of each circle.  Wet one side of the dough.  Fold the dough over to make a crescent and press to seal.  Press with a fork to make a light impression in the dough and then prick the top. Repeat until all of the dough and filling are used.

Heat oil in a frying pan or electric skillet to 300 degrees.  Carefully add the pies, one at a time, making sure that you do not crowd the pies.  You will have to cook these in batches unless you are using a large electric skillet.  Fry until golden and remove to paper towels.  Sprinkle with Cinnamon and Sugar.  Be sure to let these cool down before eating.