Poached Pears with Vanilla Cream Sauce

I love this dessert! Very easy and it looks very fancy! My kind of dish! I found this recipe in a magazine called Everyday Food.

4 servings, Prep 8 minutes, Total time 20 minutes

4 firm, ripe Bosc pears
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup vanilla ice cream

Peel the pears and core from the bottom using a melon baller (I just used a spoon), leaving stems intact. In a 2-qt microwave-safe dish with a lid, place 2 tablespoons light brown sugar and 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, and add pears. Cover, and microwave on high until the pears are tender enough to pierce with a knife, 10 to 12 minutes (timing will depend upon ripeness of pears). Don't be concerned if the pears fall over on their sides as they cook. Carefully uncover, as dish lid will release steam.

Transfer cooked pears to four shallow serving bowls, leaving juices behind. Add 1/4 cup vanilla ice cream to the juices in the dish; stir until smooth and saucy. Dividing evenly, spoon sauce around the pears; serve at room temperature or chilled.