Honey Roasted Pears

I really enjoy this dessert. The pears come out very nice with a great flavor. I was worried about cooking with brandy -- I know the alcohol would cook out, but I was worried about a residue brandy taste -- but the end result does not taste like brandy at all. Instead, it tastes more like apple cinnamon than pear. It is great with whipped cream and ice cream.

Ingredients

4 pears, halved, cored
4 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup brandy
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 tablespoon grated cinnamon

aromatics (optional):
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves

2 star anise

Serving:
Whipped cream and/or ice cream

Cooking Directions

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Place the pears, skin side up, in a roasting pan. Drizzle the honey over top of the pears. Tactically place the butter in different parts of the pan (1 piece in the center of each quarter of the pan). Pour the brandy over the pears. Lightly coat the top with the ground cinnamon and nutmeg.

Arrange the cinnamon sticks, cloves and star anise tactically around the dish as well.

Bake for 35 minutes - turn over after 20. Serve with ice cream and whipped cream.