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Caramel Pear a la Mode

I had some pears that needed to be used up, so dessert tonight was warm pears with a side of ice cream drizzled with caramel sauce. A super easy, tasty treat. I love recipes that can be augmented or reduced with ease. If you are having a dinner party for 10 or a romantic dinner for 2, you buy one pear for every two people. Simple, simple, simple.

Pears

• 1 pear per 2 people
• brown sugar
• cinnamon
• nutmeg

Peel and core pears, then cut in half lengthwise. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Pack brown sugar into shallow trough left after removing the core. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Bake in 325 oven for 20 minutes.

Caramel Sauce

• 1/2c brown sugar
• 1tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4c water
• 1/3c half & half or light cream
• 2tbsp light corn syrup
• 1tbsp butter
• 1/2tsp vanilla

Combine brown sugar and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Add water and stir. Stir in half & half, corn syrup, and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 8 minutes). Continue cooking and stirring for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.

Put pear half on plate. Scoop ice cream next to pear and drizzle caramel over entire dessert.