The beginning of Fall introduces plenty of apples and pears, so buy in bulk and soak them in wine! Hey, our excuse is that the wine is made with organic grapes that are grown right here in Arizona, Wilcox Wine Country to be exact.

Poached pears can be made up rather quickly and are truly the perfect dessert, especially when paired with a heavier meal. The delicately sweet syrup went perfect drizzled atop our gorgeous pumpkin waffles. What a great pair these two dishes are!

The comforting aroma of pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon spice can easily make this a weekly must have meal. There’s nothing more exciting and rewarding to watch your waffle iron open up after the batter has been in there a few minutes and see that crisp, golden exterior.

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Using pureed fruit, like pumpkin, is a great alternative replacing the need for eggs or dairy in any recipe. The end result is a waffle with a moist and fluffy center that would convince anyone to walk right by the butter and egg section of your market.

While there are many restaurants serving up waffles, Mother Hubbard’s Cafe offers an impressive selection of vegan friendly meals, including large portion sized waffles.

Many thanks to Kief-Joshua Vineyards and Big D Farms for providing all of the locally grown ingredients needed to make this meal possible. Stop by the Heirloom or Santa Cruz Farmers Market to pick up any of their organically grown fruits and vegetables.

Pumpkin Waffles Recipe

• 1 1/4 cup flour*
• 1 1/4 cup rice milk*
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree*
• 1 chia egg*
• 3 tbsp coconut oil*
• 3 tbsp date syrup*
• 1 tsp cinnamon*
• 1/4 tsp ginger*
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg*
• 1 inch strip of vanilla bean*
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder*
• 1/4 tsp baking soda*
• pinch of sea salt

1. Mix dry ingredients.
2. In a second bowl, add all moist ingredients and beat well.
3. Gently fold in the dry flour mixture.
4. Mix well and pour batter into waffle iron.
5. Bake until golden brown.
6. Top with syrup, nuts or coconut shreds. Serve.

Wine Poached Pears Recipe

• 3 firm, ripe pears*
• 2 cups red wine*
• 1/2 cup sugar*
• 1 lemon zest strip*
• 2 inch strip of vanilla bean*
• 1 cinnamon stick*
• 3 cardamon pods*
• 3 cloves*

1. Gently peel pears leaving stems intact.
2. Slice 1/4 inch off the bottom of the pears to create a flat bottom. Set aside.
3. Combine all remaining ingredients in saucepan.
4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Gently place pears, laying down, in poaching liquid.
6. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, turning halfway through to ensure even color.
7. Uncover, set pears upright and allow to cool.
8. Drizzle each pear with liquid syrup and serve.

*Indicates organically grown