1 large gallon soup pot or Dutch oven

ingredients:
1/2 recipe of
Kuchen Dough

Filling:
Pears
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Custard:
2 cups Cottage Cheese
1 egg
vanilla
sugar

White sugar Streusal
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup white flour
4 tablespoons softened butter
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1. Slice the pears in nice thin but not too thin slices. It is your decision to peel or not to peel them.
I like to peel apples for Kuchen, but I don't feel you need to for the pears.

2. I like to toss a bit of sugar depending on how sweet the pears are. You may not need to
add any sugar at all. The vanilla however brings out a lot of the natural flavor in the pears
and the little bit of cinnamon is like putting on perfume, just a nice spice undertone.

3. Roll out 1/2 recipe of kuchen dough . Actually I made a full recipe and used the other half to make
cinnamon rolls. So I roll out the dougha little larger than the Springform pan so I can creep it up
the sides. I really want to stress that keep the dough about 1/4 -1/2 inch thick. Seriously it will grow and become too thick really easy.

Pre heat the oven to 375

Why use a Springform pan? My German friends always seem to use one for many desserts so I am partial to that. I like the way you unmold it and it has a nice shape.

4. It doesn't kreep up that much but enough to give it a little edge. Now bake it for 10 minutes
to set the dough a bit. If you don't and you stack the custard and pears on top it doesn't raise
as well.

5. Meanwhile while the dough is in the oven, blend the cottage cheese , egg, vanilla and sugar
till it is nice and smooth. You can substitute sour cream, yogurt or even cream..
I also substitute Truvia for the sugar.

6. Spread the filling on the partially baked crust.

7.Put the pear slices on the custard. I like to place the slices in a nice pinwheel. Then I like to pour the juice on top.

8. Mix up the Streusal. You can use white sugar, brown sugar or Truvia like I do.
You can also use bread crumbs in place of the flour or even oatmeal.

9.Sprinkle on the Streusal. I don't put too much on, I like to see the fruit. Then I like to sprnkle just a bit of cinnamon on top, it gives the finished product a nice look.

Bake for 30 - 45 min till it is
nicely browned on top and you can see the crust nicely browned on the side.

Let the finished kuchen sit for 30 minutes to cool before you unmold it.