Balsamic Roasted Pears with Pepper and Honey

Serves 8

 

This is a very simple but elegant desert.  I used the Manchego Mexican cheese which is delicious.  If the pears in your market are not quite ripe enough, buy them a couple of days before serving and place them in a paper bag along with an apple.  Close the bag and several days later, they should be perfect.

 

Ingredients:

1. 4 Tblsp. sweet butter
2. 4 firm-ripe pears, halved lengthwise and cored
3. 6 Tblsp. balsamic vinegar
4. 8 Oz. Manchego cheese or mild goat cheese, cut into 8 pieces—room temp.
5. 1/2 C. honey

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Melt butter in an oven proof dish in the oven—about 3 minutes
3. Arrange pears, cut sides down, in 1 layer in butter and roast in middle of oven until tender-about 20 minutes.
4. Pour vinegar over pears and roast 5 minutes more.
5. Transfer pears, cut sides down, to serving plates with cheese and spoon some of juices from baking dish over pears.  Drizzle pears and cheese with honey and sprinkle with pepper.