Maple-Baked Pears

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened

2 Tablespoons white granulated sugar

4 pears, very ripe

Maple syrup

Brown sugar

Allspice

Light Vanilla Ice Cream

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 derees F.

Rub butter to coat the bottom of an 8-by-8 baking dish. Slice up remaining butter and leave in the dish. Dust the buttered dish with white sugar.

Peel the pears. Trim the bottom of each pear so that it stands upright. Place pears in prepared dish.

Drizzle maple syrup over each pear. Sprinkle with brown sugar and allspice.

Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.

Remove from oven and place pears on individual dishes. Spoon juices from baking dish over each pear. Add a spoonful of Light Vanilla Ice Cream to each dish and serve immediately.