Apricot-Glazed Pears

This is an elegant and simple dessert that won't leave you with too many guilty feelings and have you running for the gym in the morning.  Since it's equally easy to make for a couple or for a crowd, I made just two portions and served it for a quiet but sophisticated finale to our New Year's Eve dinner at home a few years ago.  And, since I recently introduced pears to my little one, this is a wonderful way for adults to enjoy the same food as those without teeth!

1/2 cup apricot preserves

1/2 cup orange juice

4 pears, halved lengthwise and cored

1 quart vanilla bean ice cream

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

8 cinnamon sticks

Preheat the oven to 350.

Combine preserves and orange juice.  Place pears cut side down in a baking dish.  Top with juice mixture and bake until soft 25-35 minutes.  Let cool 20 minutes.

Place each pear half on a plate cut side up.  Top each pear half with a scoop of ice cream and drizzle with sauce from baking dish.  Garnish with ground cinnamon and cinnamon stick.

Serves 8.

Recipe adapted from Everyday with Rachael Ray December/January 2009.