Stilton-Stuffed Baked Pears

Ingredients

• 0.3 cup apple juice 
• 3.8 pounds bartlett pears peeled
• 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoons butter softened
• 0.3 cup cranberries dried
• 0.3 cup pecans toasted chopped
• 1 tablespoon port 
• 2 ounces stilton cheese crumbled

Equipment

• bowl
• oven
• baking pan
• melon baller

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 37
2. Combine sugar and butter in a small bowl, and stir until well blended.
3. Add cheese, cranberries, and pecans; stir well.
4. Cut 1 inch off stem end of each pear; reserve top.
5. Remove core from stem end, and scoop out about 2 tablespoons pulp from each pear half to form a cup, using a melon baller or spoon. If necessary, cut about 1/4 inch from base of pears so they will sit flat.
6. Place the pears in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Fill each pear with about 2 tablespoons sugar mixture, and replace top on each.
7. Combine juice and port in a small bowl; pour into baking dish.
8. Bake pears at 375 for 30 minutes or until tender.
9. Serve warm.