Baked pears

Serves 2

• 2 pears
• 50g unsalted butter
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp soft brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 150C..

Step 2
Wash the pears.

Step 3
Cut a small slice from the bottom of each pear so that they will stand in the dish.

Step 4
Butter a baking dish that will hold the pears.

Step 5
Break the cinnamon in half.

Step 6
Rub some butter over each pear, place in the dish, and sprinkle over the sugar, vanilla and cinnamon, and cover the dish with foil.

Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then remove the foil.

Step 8
Return to the oven and bake for a further 20 minutes or until the pears are very tender.

Step 9
Serve warm with the juices and optional creme fraiche.

Step 10
If you happen to have some grappa at home, you could add 100ml just before you return the pears to the oven for the second half of cooking.

Step 11
Leave your comments and any suggestions at theguardian.com/wordofmouth.