My friend Mary Sorensen, hand-appliquér extraordinaire, served this dessert to me one winter evening while I was visiting. It was the perfect ending to a simple, yet elegant meal. This dessert was so delicious, I asked if I might have the recipe. She gladly gave it to me and I note that this recipe originated from one of Giada De Laurentiis Everyday Italian cooking shows.
So often pears are ignored in stores, yet they are so tasty and so good for us. This recipe will give you an excuse to treat yourself to those delicious fresh Bosc pears in the middle of winter. Thank you to both Mary and Giada for introducing me to baked pears.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup apple juice
1/3 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter (unsalted, if you have it)
3 firm Bosc pears, peeled, halved, and cored
Vanilla ice cream
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400° F. Place pears, cut-side up, in an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Whisk the apple juice and sugar in a small, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the butter. Once the butter has melted and the sauce is well blended, pour it over the pears.
Bake until the pears are crisp-tender and beginning to brown. Baste occasionally with the cooking juices from the pan. Bake approximately 30-35 minutes. Spoon the pears into individual bowls; top with ice cream, and then drizzle some of the cooking juices over the pears and ice cream. Serve immediately.
