Instructions: The success of this pear dessert depends upon using pears with unbroken skins.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Coat baking sheet with a light film of vegetable spray and wipe off excess. Arrange pears on sheet and bake 25-30 minutes or until they look rumpled and are very tender when you pierce them with tip of a knife. (Dont test until end of prescribed cooking time.)

Place hot pears on individual dessert plates and sprinkle with anise crumbs. Do not slice, but allow each diner to break into pears to savor burst of aroma and the creamy, custardy interior.

For Anise Crumbs:
Blend ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate. Will keep for weeks, longer frozen.

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