Cardamom Baked Pears

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 400F.

2. 2

   Place one oven rack in top of oven and one in middle of oven.

3. 3

   Combine wine, cardamom, and white pepper, if using, in 8-inch-square baking dish.

4. 4

   Scrape vanilla bean seeds into wine mixture, and add scraped pod.

5. 5

   Place pears cut-side up in baking dish.

6. 6

   Pour lemon juice over pears, allowing excess to spill over.

7. 7

   Sprinkle with sugar, and top each pear half with margarine piece.

8. 8

   Cover pan with foil, place on middle rack in oven, and bake 30 minutes, or until tender.

9. 9

   Remove foil; turn oven to broil, and shift baking pan to top rack.

10. 10

    Broil 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.

11. 11

    Meanwhile, toast pine nuts in skillet over medium heat, shaking pan frequently, 4 to 5 minutes, or until browned.

12. 12

    Transfer pears to serving plates, drizzle with juice from pan, and sprinkle with pine nuts.

* Per serving · 4 servings · Values may vary.