Roasted pears with blue cheese is a great way to impress your guests! Besides being visually appealing, the flavours will have everyone coming back for seconds!

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe pears (Anjou or Bartlett)
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 oz coarsely crumbled blue cheese such as stilton or blue haze (smoked blue)
• ¼ cup dried cranberries
• ¼ cup toasted chopped walnuts
• ¼ cup apple cider or apple juice
• 3 tbsp port
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup Parthena Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 6 oz baby arugula

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel and slice pears in half.
2. Scoop out the core of the pear and hollow it out for the filling.
3. Toss the pears in lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown. Arrange the pears in a baking dish, large enough to hold all 4 halves.
4. Gently toss together the blue cheese, cranberries, and walnuts in a small bowl. Divide mixture among the pears, filling the center of the pears.
5. In the same bowl combine the apple cider, port, and brown sugar, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Pour the mixture over the pears.
6. Bake for 30 minutes, basting often with the cider mixture. Remove from oven and set aside and let cool.
7. Just before serving, whisk together the olive oil, and extra lemon juice, and ¼ cup of the basting liquid in a bowl. Add the arugula and toss well. Divide the arugula onto the 4 serving dishes and top with a pear half. Drizzle each pear with the extra liquid if desired. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.