Maple Vanilla Baked Pears

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It's time to face it: summer is ending.  Every year my heart breaks as I realize that the days are getting shorter, farmers' market season is dwindling (oh how I miss NYC where the markets are year round), and the cold weather is creeping in.  But this year I'm not gonna let it get me down.  This year I'm fully embracing autumn.  I'm getting excited about all things fall: cool weather, leaves, changing...I've even picked a few apples already.

I also made this delicious dessert using one of my favorite fall foods.  This simple way of preparing pears is so easy you won't believe it.  I would highly recommend using this recipe when entertaining because it requires so little preparation and is really hard to mess up.  Plus, it is incredibly delicious.

I should admit here, in the past I have not been the biggest fan of pears.  They just never really appealed to me that much.  I found the texture a bit mealy and just rarely chose them over other fruit. But I've come around.  They have a refreshing sweetness you just can't find in an apple.  And that mealiness?  It's some serious fiber providing more satiety and helping to balance blood sugar.  And think twice before you peel your pears.  The skin is packed with antioxidants, flavonoids, and phytonutrients that support a healthy immune system and fight inflammation.


Ingredients:

Serves 2

2 pears (any variety will work)
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp lemon juice
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/2 vanilla bean scraped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice and core pears and place face up in a baking sheet. Whisk together remaining ingredients in a small bowl.  Pour this mixture over the pears and bake for 20 minutes.  Flip pears and spoon the juices in the pan on top of them. Return to the oven for an additional 20 minutes.  Serve with coconut milk, mascarpone, or ice cream as a dessert or over yogurt or porridge for breakfast.