Baked Pears With Brandy/Vanilla Ice Cream

We make this every year for Thanksgiving. It is so easy, yet so elegant and impressive. Plus, it is delicious! Cook time does not include time to freeze the ice cream.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1  quart vanilla ice cream, softened
• 1⁄4 cup brandy
• 4  firm-ripe pears
• 1⁄4 cup lemon juice
• 1⁄4 cup butter, melted
• 1⁄4 cup honey
• 1⁄2 vanilla bean (about 3-inches long)
• 1  tablespoon  grated  orange peel
• 1  tablespoon  grated lemon peel
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Stir together ice cream and brandy until well blended. Cover and freeze until serving time.
2. Peel, halve and core pears. Immediately sprinkle with 2 tablespoons lemon juice to prevent browning.
3. In a 9 by 13 inch baking dish, mix together remaining lemon juice, butter, and honey.
4. Slit vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape seeds into the butter mixture. Stir in grated lemon and orange peel, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.
5. Score round portion of each pear half diagonally 1/8 inch deep in one direction and then in the opposite direction, creating a diamond pattern.
6. Place pears cut side down in baking dish and spoon sauce over them.
7. Bake in a 350 degree oven, basting often, until very tender when peirced with a fork, about 40 minutes.
8. Arrange pears on serving plates, rounded side up and serve with brandy/vanilla ice cream on the same plate.