8 lg. firm ripe pears
5 tbsp. honey
5 tbsp. firmly packed dark brown sugar
5 tbsp. minced peeled fresh ginger root
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Whipped cream as an accompaniment if desired

Put the pears, leaving stems in tact, cut a thin slice from the bottom of each pear so that it will stand up. Arrange the pears, standing in a large baking dish, drizzle them with the honey, and sprinkle them with the brown sugar and ginger root.

Sprinkle the lemon juice around the jars, add enough water to reach half way up the sides of baking dish, bake pears, covered with foil, in middle of preheated 350 degrees oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until they are just tender when pureed with sharp knife. Transfer pears to a serving dish, pour the cooking liquid into a saucepan and boil until thickened. Pour sauce over pears and serve each pear with a dollop of the cream.