Spicy Baked Pears

Spicy Baked Pears
with Yogurt

Featured in Sunset Magazine, February 2000
"The West's Best B&Bs: Wake up to a great breakfast!"

These pears are an enduring favorite and also won the 1989 California Summer Fruits Bed & Breakfast Inns Recipe contest! This recipe makes a great breakfast starter, but is also a tasty desert treat, served warm with a little vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

5 large ripe pears
1/2 c dark brown sugar
3/4 c orange juice (or enough to make 1/2 inch of liquid in baking dish)
1/4 c butter
cinnamon
mace
pinch of ground cloves

vanilla yogurt

Line bottom of 10x15 inch baking dish with the brown sugar. Sprinkle sugar layer generously with cinnamon, mace and pinch of clove. Slice pears in half; remove cores and stems. Lay pears cut side down on sugar mixture. Pour orange juice over pears and dot with butter. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until pears are tender.

To serve, place pear cut side down on a serving dish, pour some of the juice mixture over the pear. Place a dollop of yogurt along side of the pears and top with freshly grated nutmeg.

* This recipe can be prepared in advance by combining all the ingredients except the orange juice. Pour over right before baking.

Serves 10

Mendocino Bed & Breakfast

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