Sugared Cardamom Pears

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter
3 Bosc pears, peeled, cored, cut into 8ths
1/4 cup brown sugar
Pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 teaspoon Madagascar vanilla extract
Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Crystallized ginger, for garnish

Directions:
In a skillet over medium-high heat, add the butter. As the butter melts and begins to foam, add the Bosc pears. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add the brown sugar and stir to incorporate the sugar mixture, evenly coating the pears. Stir in the salt, cardamom, and vanilla extract, and continue to stir until the liquid becomes syrupy. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve over vanilla ice cream garnished with chopped crystallized ginger.

Yields: 4 servings

Thanks to: Janet Johnston, Savory Spice Shop co-founder and host of Food Network's Spice & Easy.