Pear Dumplings

*Today's post is NOT for anyone following a strict diet ;)

 I love to bake. Over the last few months, pretty much ever since I retired from the Army after a 20 year career, I've taken my love of baking to a whole new level. I think it's due to the fact that, although I baked plenty while I was in, I have so much more time on my hands to really experiment with recipes now. My girls and and my fiancé have been the happy beneficiaries of all of my kitchen work. Some recipes work and some...well...totally don't.
One recipe that has REALLY worked is one that I picked up from a great blog, The Pioneer Woman for Apple Dumplings. If I ever met Ree, I'm seriously going to hug her for sharing that treasure. I stumbled on it a few months ago and ever since my family fondly refers to those sweet little treats as "crack"(!) My fiancé usually requests that I make them every few weeks, especially after he's had a rough day and I happily oblige. They are so good...and so easy to make...they really are THAT addictive. I guess the question that needs to be asked is, If I love the original recipe so much, why would I want to change it? Well, it's simple really, I love apple and I love pears....pears were on sale today at the grocery store...viola!

What you need:
3 pears (I'm not sure what variation I used)

2 cans of crescent rolls (regular 8 oz cans)
2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cup of sugar
2 teaspoonful of vanilla (the original recipe called for 1 tsp BUT I really like vanilla)
8 oz Mountain Dew Soda (you read that right!)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and butter a 9x13 baking dish. Slice your cleaned pears into wedges. You could peel them but I left the peel on. Roll each of the pears into the individual crescent roll triangles and place it into your buttered dish.
 

              After you gotten all of your pears rolled, melt your 2 sticks of butter the, add your sugar but only stir it A LITTLE BIT.  Next add your vanilla and stir it A LITTLE BIT. You want to keep the mixture as chunky as possible (you'll thank me later). Once you have everything combined, spoon the mixture on top of the dumplings and don't be shy about it! You want to make sure that you completely cover the dumplings. After they are completely covered, pour the Mountain Dew around the sides of the baking dish.

It doesn't have to be perfect so don't fret if you get it on the dumplings...either way, it's gonna taste amazing.
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes then...get ready for your family and friends to sing your praises!

Bon Appetit!