The Perfect Peck: How to Pickle Pears

When you think of fruits and vegetables to pickle, pears may not be at the top — or even the bottom — of the list. But hear us out. Pickled pears are simple to make and, because of how uncommon they are, make for a fun surprise on any cheese platter, sandwich, or salad. They're a fall treat that will steal the spotlight from all those other seasonal fruits.

And they're easy to make. Just place thinly sliced pears in a glass jar and cover with a homemade brine of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Rather than using plain ol' distilled white vinegar, this brine's liquid base is apple cider vinegar, which gives the pears a delicious tang with just a hint of sweetness.

If you find yourself hosting an impromptu gathering, you can add pickled pears to several quick appetizers. Layer them on a sliced baguette and top with candied walnuts. They also melt exquisitely into a grilled cheese sandwich (we recommend using cheddar) and take a salad from boring to amazing in seconds. Yes, seconds — we timed ourselves.