CHEESE CRUST:

1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
1/4 c. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2 or 3 tbsp. water

Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until it is coarse and looks like meal. Stir in cheese and sprinkle with water. Stir with fork until it holds together. Shape the dough in a ball and roll out on a floured surface. Line a 10 x 6 x 2 inch baking dish with rolled out dough. Trim edges and save leftover pieces of dough.

FILLING:

6 med. pears, about 4 c.
3 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. sugar
1 tbsp. butter
Dash of salt

Peel, core and slice pears. Arrange pears in cheese crust. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and sprinkle over pears. Dot with butter. Roll remaining pastry out and cut into strips. Place the strips on top of the pear mixture in a criss-cross pattern. Bake in 350 degree oven for 1 hour and 10 minutes.