Instructions: Heat oven to 375 degrees. To make pear fans: make 1/4-inch lengthwise slices along length of each half-pear, starting 1/3-inch from the stem end and cutting all the way down toward the rounded end.

Place butter in a 9-inch-square baking pan and melt in the oven. Add lemon juice, pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons water to butter, mix well. Place pears in the pan, rounded sides up. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake until pears are fork tender, about forty minutes; turn once halfway through baking time.

With a slotted spoon, transfer pear halves onto serving plates and carefully fan them out. Stir vanilla into sauce in pan. Place pan on stovetop and cook 1 minute to reduce slightly. Spoon sauce over pears. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This recipe yields 4 servings.

Comments: When you first put the pears in the baking pan dont try to fan them out. After they cook and soften youll be able to fan them out easily, without breaking them.

Description: "Beautiful, easy and elegant, this fruit dessert is festive enough to end a company meal - especially if you top the pear fan with a dollop of whipped, lightly sweetened mascarpone cheese."

If you would like to email yourself the recipe for later use, or share the recipe with your friends or family, enter the email addresses below and this recipe will be emailed to you and others as well.