Maple Baked Stuffed Pears
4 medium firm pears with stems
1/4 cup dried cranberries or dried tart red cherries
3 tbsp chopped walnuts, toasted
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup maple syrup
Sweetened shipped cream
Sliced fresh strawberries (optional)
Peel the whole pears, leaving the stems intact. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pear so that the pears can stand up. Working through the bottom of each pear, use a melon baller to remove the core. Discard the core of the pears.
In a small mixing bowl, stir together the cranberries, walnuts, lemon juice and sugar. Spoon the mixture into bottom each pear. Stand pears in a 8x8x2 inch baking pan. Add the water to the baking dish. Pour maple syrup over and around the pears. Sprinkle any of the remaining filling into the bottom of the baking dish.
Bake the stuffed pears, covered, in a 350 oven for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake for 20-25 minutes more, or until the pears are tender, basting occasionally with some of the cooking liquid.
To serve, spoon whipped cream in the center of 4 dessert plates. Place pears in the cream. spoon any remaining cooking liquid over pears. If you like, garnish with a few slices of strawberries. Serve the stuffed pears warm. Makes 4 servings.