Orange Baked Pears with Grand Marnier

A few days ago while in the waiting room in the hospital I picked up a magazine and found an extremely simple pear recipe. I thought about tearing out the page and taking it with me, but I just couldn't do it. I whipped out a pen and started copying away in a rush, hoping to be called in by the nurse. I came home after my procedure and to take my mind off of any upcoming pain, I checked to see if I had all of the ingrediants;
Ingredients

- Ripe Pear (Any type, I used a Bosc)
- No Pulp Orange Juice, 1 cup
- Light Brown Sugar, 6 Tablespoons and some more to caramelize
- Grand Marni er, 1 Teaspoon (You don't have to add)

You see, you don't need that many ingredients. Anyone can do this and you don't need much equipment;

Equipment

- Measuring Cup
- Tablespoon Measurer
- Torch
- Wooden Spoon
- Large Non-stick Pan


Directions

1. Peel ripe pear with vegetable peeler and cut in half. Using a melon ball scooper remove the seeds of the pear.




Tip: Once you cut it in half you will notice a circle about the same size of the melon ball scooper. In other words, there is no way you wont know where to remove it.

2. Pour only 1/2 cup of orange juice in the pan and 3 tablespoons of light brown sugar. Mix the orange juice and sugar together over medium high heat.


3. Place the pears sliced side up in the pan with the orange juice and sugar.

Tip: Spoon some of the juices over the pears.

4. Cover pan with aluminum foil until the pears soften about 5 minutes.


5. Remove lid, turn pears over and simmer about another 2 minutes.

Tip: Make sure to remove the aluminum foil with plastic tongs, so that you don't burn yourself with the steam.



6. Once you remove the aluminum foil lid, turn pears over and simmer for about another 2-4 minutes.

Tip: You'll know if they are ready if you puncture the pears with a fork and they go in easily.

7. The original recipe, uses the broiler instead of a torch, but since I already purchased a torch, I might as well use it. While in the pan, sprinkle some brown sugar on the pears and torch them to get them caramelized.



8. Remove the pears and put them on your plate. I noticed that a lot of what got caramelized fell off when I transferred the pears to the plate. No worries! Just put some more sugar on the pears and torch again.

9. To the non-stick pan add the other half a cup of orange juice and brown sugar (3 tablespoons) and with the wooden spoon mix it up. You want to reduce the sauce. I reduced the sauce and use it on my plate for decoration.

10. Add some powdered cinnamon or sugar over to decorate and enhance flavors of your pear. I also added some whipped cream.

This was an extremely easy recipe even for those that are 100% amateurs. Now the truth, was it delicious out of this world? No. It was refreshing and healthy tasting. It was a beautiful presentation. This is a great dessert to have instead of a fruit salad. Is this something that I'm going to be craving for, probably not. But, I hope to make it for a dinner party soon.