PEAR CHIPS Adapted from Vong Time: about 2 1/2 hours 1 Bartlett pear 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar.

Add 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, and beat until incorporated.

It's also used as as an anti-caking agent in powdered sugar, which is why confectioners sugar seems to have a similar consistency to cornstarch.

In North America, they are often eaten as a breakfast food; toppings vary from whipped cream, confectioners sugar, soft fruit, and chocolate spread, to syrup and butter or margarine.

Toppings vary from whipped cream, confectioners sugar, soft fruit, chocolate spread, to syrup and butter or margarine.

The recipe advised to combine the paste with confectioners sugar until smooth, but try as I might, "smooth" was simply not an option, even after I used my fingers to break up sticky clumps.

In the meantime, mix the confectioners sugar with the lemon juice and hot water; brush the gingerbread men with this sugar glaze when they emerge from the oven and attach the almond halves using the glaze as an adhesive.

Strawberries Clafoutis Total time: 45 minutes 1/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups milk 1 pint strawberries (about 14 ounces), cleaned and hulled 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar.

Add 21/2 cups confectioners' sugar and beat until very fluffy, about 10 minutes.

Top with a phyllo disk, and sprinkle with confectioners sugar.