Blue Cheese & Caramelized Pears

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

Line a heavy baking sheet with foil.

Halve the pears lengthwise and core them (using a melon baller to remove the core from each half, then remove the tough fibers running from the stem end to the bottom of each half with a sharp paring knife).

Place the pears, cut side up, on the baking sheet and brush with some of the butter, then turn cut side down and brush with the remaining butter.

Roast the pears for 10-15 minutes or until the cut sides begin to color.

Turn, cut sides up, and carefully sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of the sugar over each pear half.

Roast for 5-10 minutes longer, or until tender when pierced with a knife.

Arrange 2 pear halves, cut side up, on each dessert plate.

Crumble the blue cheese over the pears and serve immediately.

NOTE: The pears can be roasted up to 2 hours in advance and set aside, loosely covered, at room temperature. Reheat in a 350F oven for 10-15 minutes before serving.