Baked Pears with Gingered Caramel Sauce

Lush pears smothered in buttery caramel sauce with just a hint of ginger.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it!  Welcome to my very first official dessert!  You can serve it cold or hot, but I prefer it warm and toasty.  However you do, one thing is certain, there will be no leftovers!

Ingredients

Pears
     6 Pears, halved and cored
     12 tbs Butter (sticks)
     12 tsp Brown Sugar
     Ground Ginger
Caramel Sauce
     4 Egg Yolks, beaten
     1 cup Brown Sugar, packed
     1 cup Sugar
     1/2 cup Butter (sticks)
     1 cup Water
     2 tsp Vanilla
     2 tsp Ground Ginger
     2 tbs Tapioca (optional)

12 servings






For Pears

1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Lightly spray 15x10x2 glass baking dish with Pam.
3. Wash your pears and cut in half.  Carefully scoop out the core, creating little cups in each half. Place in dish.
4. Place 1 tsp brown sugar in each pear cup, place 1 tbs butter on top of each.  I used the sticks because they are premeasured. Lightly sprinkle the tops of each pear half with ground ginger.
5. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes.

For Caramel Sauce

1. Carefully separate your eggs, discarding the white stuff.  Place each yolk in a medium saucepan.  Using a whisk, beat until well mixed.
2. Add your sugars, water, vanilla and ginger.  Using your whisk, mix until well blended.  
• Note:  You can add tapioca if you like at this stage to thicken it.  Be aware, it will leave your sauce with little white spots, but they actually add to the flavor slightly.  But if you don't want to add it, your sauce will be just fine, just not as thick.
3. Add your butter sticks.  I did not pre-melt them, I just dropped them in.  They will appear chunky at first, but they melt into the sauce with no problem.
4. Stirring constantly with your whisk, and I do mean constantly, bring your mixture to a roiling boil.  Do NOT lower your heat!  If you've added tapioca stir for about 3-5 minutes, if not, stir for 1-2 minutes.  Remove from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes so that it can thicken.
5. Makes about 2 cups.

Place each pear half in a bowl or on a plate, cover with sauce and enjoy!  You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you'd like, but these taste great alone!