Title: Baked pears stuffed with almonds
 Categories: Almonds, Desserts
      Yield: 8 Servings
 
MMMMM------------------------BAKED PEARS-----------------------------
    1/4 c  White wine
    1/4 c  Water
      1 tb Lemon juice
    1/2 c  Sugar
      1    Cinnamon stick
      1 ts Vanilla extract
    1/4 ts Grated lemon peel
    1/4 ts Ground cardamom; (optional)
    1/8 ts Ground cloves
      4    Medium-ripe pears (Bartlett
           -or Comice); peeled halved
           -and cored

MMMMM-----------------------ALMOND FILLING----------------------------
    2/3 c  Whole natural almonds
      3 tb Sugar
    1/4 ts Finely grated lemon peel; up
           -to 1/2 tsp
    1/4 ts Ground cardamom; optional
    1/8 ts Salt
    1/2    Egg white; (about 1 1/2
           -tablespoons)
 
  BAKED PEARS: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Mix in all ingredients except
  pears in shallow glass or ceramic baking dish large enough to fit
  pear halves in a single layer. Place pears in dish, cut sides down;
  cover loosely with aluminum foil. Bake 15 to 25 minutes until pears
  are just tender. Meanwhile, prepare Almond Filling.
  
  ALMOND FILLING: In bowl of food processor fitted with steel blade,
  combine all ingredients. Process until almonds are coarsely chopped.
  
  TO FINISH DESSERT: Invert hot baked pear halves in dish. Fill
  cavities with Amond Filling, divided equally. Continue to bake 10
  minutes, then place 6 inches under broiler about 1 minute, watching
  closely, to lightly brown almonds. Place pears in individual dishes
  with the syrup. Accompany with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, if
  desired.
  
  Servings: 8
  
  (PER PORTION : 200 Calories; 8 g Fat; 0 mg Cholesterol; 143 mg
  Sodium; 32 g Carbohydrate; 4 g Fiber; 3 g Protein.)