Sarasota's Turkey Sausage Stuffed Pears

Ingredients

• 4 pears, cut in half and the cores removed (Bosc or Anjou)
• 1 pear, peeled cored and diced fine (Bosc or Anjou)
• 1/2 lb turkey sausage (I like sage, herb, apple flavored, you can also use a pork sausage if you want)
• 1/2 cup celery, diced fine approximately 1 rib
• 1 small onion, diced fine
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 slice bread
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• salt
• pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter

Sauce

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup maple syrup (real syrup)
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1/8 tablespoon clove

Garnish

• chopped pecans

Directions

1. 1

   Sausage Filling -- In a medium sauce pan over medium - high heat, melt the butter and then add the sausage and cook until golden brown. Remove to a paper plate lined with a paper towel to drain. In the same pan add the garlic, onion, celery, diced pears and cook until everything is soft, 5-8 minutes. Add the thyme, salt and pepper and remove from the heat. Let it cool slightly and then add the sausage back inches Take the slice of bread and soak in milk and then squeeze thorough and add that along with the beaten egg to the sausage mixture as well. Mix everything together well and set to the side.

2. 2

   Pears -- Cut a small slice off the bottom (uncut portion) of the pear so it will set flat in a baking dish. I use a 13x9 pan sprayed with Pam. I add just 1/2 cut to the bottom so the pears do not burn and then set the pears in the dish. Add a nice scoop of the sausage mixture to each pear.

3. 3

   Sauce -- To a small sauce pan on medium heat, add the orange juice, brown sugar, orange juice, cloves and butter and bring to a light boil for just a minute and then reduce. This will be liquid you will brush and drizzle over the pears as they cook.

4. 4

   Bake -- 350 for about 35-40 minutes. I drizzle and brush the glaze on every 10 minutes to add a nice caramelized color to the pears as they cook. I sometimes will add a little water to the bottom to keep some moisture so they don't burn.

5. 5

   Serve each person a pear and garnish with chopped pecans if you want. Cheesy scrambled eggs with fresh herbs, fresh bread or croissants and you have a an amazing breakfast or brunch. This for me could even be dinner. I love breakfast for dinner.